Northern Governors Deploy Vigilante Groups As Kidnapping Ransom Surges To N2.2 Trillion

Northern Governors Deploy Vigilante Groups As Kidnapping Ransom Surges To N2.2 Trillion

A report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransom over the 12-month period from…READ MORE…

May 2023 to April 2024, underscoring the escalating threat posed by criminal activities, particularly kidnapping.

The NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey indicated that approximately 51.89 million crime incidents were reported across Nigerian households during this timeframe. The North-West region recorded the highest crime rates with 14.4 million incidents, followed by the North-Central region with 8.8 million cases. In contrast, the South-East reported the fewest crimes, totaling 6.18 million.

State Mobilization Efforts

In response to the alarming statistics, several northern states have turned to establishing vigilante groups and employing private security personnel to support federal efforts in combating banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping.

The Kano State Government has recruited around 2,500 security operatives to bolster safety measures statewide. These recruits underwent training at the Corporate Security Training Institute in Gabasawa, aimed at improving job opportunities for youth while enhancing the state’s security framework.

A state official, speaking anonymously, noted, “The current administration, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has recently employed these private security personnel to fortify existing security measures across various ministries and agencies.”

In January, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State introduced 3,969 members of the State Community Protection Guards to tackle security challenges in the area. During the presentation of these security personnel in Gusau, Lawal expressed his administration’s commitment to eradicating banditry, urging rural communities to cooperate with the guards in their efforts to combat crime.

Similarly, the Kogi State Government reported the recruitment of 3,000 personnel across its 21 Local Government Areas in the past year to combat banditry and other criminal activities. Ismail Isah, the Special Adviser to Governor Usman Ododo on Media, confirmed this development.

In Bauchi State, the government has aligned with lawfully registered vigilante groups to fight banditry and terrorism, according to the Commissioner for Internal Security, Abdulhamid Bununu. He emphasized that these groups operate under police supervision and play a crucial role in joint operations against criminal hideouts.

The Sokoto State Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), highlighted that the Sokoto Community Guard Corps has been established to assist security agencies and gather intelligence in the ongoing fight against banditry.

Likewise, the Kebbi State Government has expressed continuous support for local vigilante groups, planning to provide them with stipends to encourage their activities and bolster overall security efforts.

Crime Impact and Public Perception

The NBS report also highlighted that rural areas are disproportionately affected by crime, with 26.53 million incidents recorded in rural households compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. Kidnappings have become particularly problematic, with 4.14 million households reporting home robberies. Alarmingly, 65% of those affected by kidnappings stated they felt compelled to pay ransom, with the average ransom amounting to N2.67 million, culminating in the total ransom of N2.23 trillion paid to criminals.

Despite the scale of criminal activities, only 36.3% of households impacted by home robbery reported their experiences to the police, reflecting a broader distrust in law enforcement. The report noted that nationally, an estimated 51,887,032 crime incidents were recorded, with the North-West region accounting for 14,402,254 cases, the highest among all areas.

The survey also shed light on individual crime experiences, estimating that 21.4% of Nigerians had fallen victim to crime, with phone theft being the most prevalent. While 90% of phone theft victims reported the incident to the authorities, satisfaction with police response was notably low.

Public perception of safety remains concerning, with 9.6% of Nigerians fearing they would become crime victims within the next year. The fear of crime was higher in rural areas, where 13% felt vulnerable, contrasted with 7% in urban settings. The survey emphasized doubts about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the police, with only 33.1% of respondents believing that emergency calls receive a timely response.

In many rural communities, local vigilante groups are often perceived as a more reliable security option than official law enforcement agencies.

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