CNG Criticizes NBS Crime Report as Misleading and Unreliable

• The Coalition of Northern Groups has rejected the NBS crime report, labeling it flawed and a deliberate attempt to misrepresent Northern Nigeria’s security situation
• CNG criticized the report’s methodology and questioned the accuracy of high crime figures attributed to the North-West and North-East regions

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has rejected the recent crime statistics published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), calling the report flawed and biased.

The NBS report, released on December 17, revealed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. It also stated that 51.89 million crime incidents occurred across Nigerian households during the same period.

Reacting to the report, CNG’s National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, issued a statement condemning the findings.

He argued that the report presents an inaccurate and exaggerated picture of crime in Northern Nigeria, labeling it as a deliberate attempt to portray the region as facing overwhelming security challenges.

“We categorically reject the report as flawed and a complete fabrication. It does not reflect the verifiable reality in the North or Nigeria as a whole,” Charanchi said.

He criticized the methodology used in the report, saying it lacked transparency and credible data collection processes. He also questioned the sampling framework, noting that it did not provide enough details to guarantee representativeness.

The CNG expressed doubts about the report’s accuracy, particularly the high crime figures attributed to the North-West and North-East. Charanchi pointed out recent successes in combating insecurity in the regions, such as the Nigerian Army’s destruction of over 22 terrorist camps in Kebbi and Sokoto States, as evidence of progress.

“The claim that over 51 million crime incidents occurred nationwide, with 14.4 million in the North-West alone, is statistically implausible. It raises questions about whether the survey was designed to fit preconceived narratives rather than reflect actual data,” he added.

While acknowledging security challenges across Nigeria, the CNG emphasized its commitment to promoting peace and development in the North.

It urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to collaborate on practical solutions to address genuine concerns instead of relying on “sensationalized data.”