NIGERIA is facing an alarming security crisis, with an estimated 2.2 million kidnapping incidents and about ₦2.2 trillion paid as ransom within a single year, a security expert, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, has disclosed.
News Point Nigeria reports Aremu made the disclosure during a public lecture organised by the Social Sciences Students’ Association (SOSSA) of Adekunle Ajasin University in Ondo State, where he examined Nigeria’s worsening security situation, its global security rankings, and the growing human and economic consequences of insecurity across the country.
The security scholar, who lectures at University of Ibadan and currently serves as Acting Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, described the situation as evidence of the emergence of a structured and organised “ransom economy” fuelled by banditry, kidnapping syndicates, and insurgent networks operating nationwide.
Citing figures attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics and reportedly released in December 2024, Aremu warned that insecurity in Nigeria had evolved into a dangerous criminal enterprise with devastating consequences for citizens, communities, and the economy.
According to him, the scale of kidnapping and ransom payments reflects how deeply entrenched criminal networks have become in the country.
He warned that the growing insecurity was not only claiming lives and destroying livelihoods but was also weakening public confidence in governance and threatening economic stability.
Aremu also drew attention to Nigeria’s poor standing on major global security and governance indexes.
According to him, Nigeria currently ranks 142 out of 143 countries on the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, 148 out of 163 on the Global Peace Index, and fifth globally on the Global Terrorism Index.
He said the rankings indicate a sustained decline in national security, governance, and public safety, with serious implications for development and investor confidence.
The professor traced the roots of Nigeria’s security crisis to several historical flashpoints, including the Nigerian Civil War, the Maitatsine uprisings, militancy in the Niger Delta, and the rise of Boko Haram insurgency.
He argued that many of the security challenges escalated because early warning signs were ignored or poorly managed by authorities.
Aremu further explained that the fragmentation of extremist groups such as ISWAP and other splinter factions, alongside the rise of banditry and illegal mining activities, has made the security crisis even more complex and difficult to contain.
The scholar expressed concern over the increasing use of vast forests and remote territories as operational bases for criminal groups.
He specifically mentioned Sambisa Forest, Alagarno Forest, Kamuku Forest Reserve, Kuyambana Forest, Kuduru Forest, and Old Oyo National Park as areas increasingly serving as safe havens for kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.
According to him, the situation reflects weak state presence and inadequate security control in many remote parts of the country.
Aremu also highlighted repeated attacks on schools across Nigeria, including the abductions in Chibok, Dapchi, Kagara, Greenfield, and recent incidents in parts of Oyo State.
He said the recurring attacks demonstrate persistent failures in intelligence gathering, coordination among security agencies, and preventive security strategies.
The security expert lamented that institutional rivalry and poor collaboration among agencies continue to undermine Nigeria’s response to insecurity.
He described the situation as a “blame game” among security institutions, warning that lack of synergy was weakening effective action against criminal groups.
To tackle the worsening crisis, Aremu recommended the establishment of state police, improved community intelligence gathering, stronger cooperation among security agencies, coordinated surveillance among neighbouring states, and the deployment of forest guards to secure ungoverned territories.
He stressed that without urgent reforms and coordinated action, criminal groups would continue to exploit security gaps across the country.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, described the lecture as timely and highly relevant to Nigeria’s present security realities.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Adesuyi Adebukola, called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, academics, and other stakeholders.
He stressed that insecurity remains one of the biggest obstacles to national development and economic progress in Nigeria.