A recent review of SBM Intelligence’s report on Nigeria’s security situation reveals that between July 2023 and July 2024, 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states made ransom payments to kidnappers. The report highlights a troubling rise in kidnapping incidents across the country.
Notably, nine states have remained free from ransom payments: Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Oyo, Gombe, Taraba, Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Kebbi. However, the situation in other states is alarming. Anambra leads with the highest ransom payments at N350 million, followed by Rivers with N67.7 million, Nasarawa with N55.5 million, and Borno with N34.2 million.
According to the report, a staggering 7,568 individuals were kidnapped across Nigeria during this one-year period. The security challenges identified include Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, the activities of armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related issues in the Southwest.
The report further reveals that while kidnappers demanded a total of N10,995,090,000 (around $6.87 million) in ransom, they only received N1,048,110,000, representing just 9.5% of the demanded amount. This suggests that kidnappers are becoming less precise in targeting victims.
Nigeria’s security crisis has been exacerbated by economic challenges such as food scarcity and rising living costs. Despite the government’s pledge to address these issues, Nigerians continue to express concern over the ongoing insecurity.
In recent developments, it was reported that President Bola Tinubu’s administration spent N3.2 trillion on security within a year, yet this significant expenditure has not brought an end to the insecurity plaguing the nation.
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