Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed that an estimated N5 billion has been paid as ransom to kidnappers since 2016, highlighting the alarming growth of criminal activities in the country.
Kalu unveiled the shocking reality on Monday, at the national dialogue on state policing in Abuja.
He stressed the urgency for a multi-layered policing approach to address the escalating security challenges.
He pointed out that Nigeria ranked fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa and eighth globally for countries most impacted by terrorism according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, underscoring the severity of the situation.
He said: “Since 2016, estimates suggest over N5 billion has been paid in ransoms to kidnappers, a figure that starkly exposes the alarming growth of this criminal enterprise in the country.
The deputy speaker outlined the divide among Nigerians regarding solutions to the security crisis.
Despite this debate, Kalu highlighted the existing examples of multi-layered policing in Nigeria, such as Amotekun in the South West, Ebubeagu in the South East, and the pioneer Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East geopolitical zone.
Kalu stressed the need for immediate action, urging policymakers to prioritize local security and enable a more responsive policing environment.
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