Kidnapping, Banditry and the Roles of Individuals and Government Alike in Enhancing Territorial Security

 

Kidnapping refers to the abduction and captivity of a person, typically to obtain a ransom. Sometimes kidnappers hold their captives longer in order to demand more money from the victim’s relatives or associates. It is a wicked act.

In order to understand Kidnapping in Nigeria, it is important to have a general overview of kidnapping worldwide.

Kidnapping is a global problem that affects countries all over the world.The rates of kidnapping in Europe, North America, and South America are attracting worldwide attention. The practice of kidnapping has become quite lucrative for some, and there are criminal groups that have made it their business model.

In Mexico, with its history of drug-related violence and police corruption, kidnapping is an old story. According to the U.S. Department of State, Mexico suffered an estimated 105,682 kidnappings in 2012, and in 2013 the number reached 131,946, the highest number on record.

The disappearance of children in the United States is not unheard of, either, and it is a problem that police and other agencies are working hard to address. According to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, roughly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the

country.

In some cases, the kidnapping seems to make very little sense. One example is an incident that took place in the United Kingdom in which a woman kidnapped her own daughter. According to The Sun, “Karen Matthews was jailed for eight years for her part in faking the kidnap of her own daughter in 2008. 

The question we might ask is why would a mother kidnap her own daughter? What could possibly inspire her to do such a terrible thing?

The answer is that she did it for the money. She did it so that she could claim the £50,000 reward offered by the government for “finding” Shannon. She planned to share the reward money with her accomplice, Michael Donovan, who was a relative. 

According to the Offender Management Caseload Statistics, the UK recorded about 57 convicted kidnappings cases between 2007-2008.

In some countries, kidnapping has also affected those who occupies top government positions. The son of the former president of Slovakia was once kidnapped. In August of 1995, Michal Kovac Jr, whose father was president of newly independent Slovakia, was stopped in his car by armed men who handcuffed him, forced him to drink two bottles of whisky, and then drove him to an unknown destination.

Kidnapping in Nigeria

Kidnapping is not a new problem in Nigeria, and it is one of the country’s biggest challenges. The country faces many problems, including unemployment, corruption, and low rates of education—but it is kidnapping, thanks to high-profile incidents perpetrated by the Islamic militant group known as Boko Haram, that has drawn the world’s attention. The facts show that the rate of kidnapping in this country is indeed high.

Kidnapping by bandits and insurgents is among the biggest organised or gang crime in Nigeria and is a national security challenge. Resistance to kidnapping often results in the deaths of victims. Thousands of Nigerians have fallen victim of the crime and have had to pay millions of dollars in ransom for their freedom. 

Kidnapping is seen as a lucrative business and the shortest means to wealth by those involved in this crime. The current wave of abductions across the country makes every person a potential target regardless of social class or economic status unlike political kidnapping which started in the Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region in the early 2000s and the one by jihadist terror group, Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast and northwest that began in 2009 when the conflict there started Kidnapping for ransom on a commercial scale which became rampant in Nigeria in 2011 spread across all the 36 states and the country’s capital, Abuja. 

In February 2021, Nigerian journalist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani wrote for the BBC News, “The Nigerian government seems to have suggested that it can no longer be relied on to keep citizens safe. 

There are many causes of kidnapping, including religion, unemployment, poverty, political issues, and so on.

The kidnappings of the boko haram sect are religious because of the group’s fundamentalist Islamic beliefs. The meaning of their name is “Western education is prohibited,” which explains why they continue to target schoolchildren.

 On the night of April 14, 2014, about 276 Chibok schoolgirls, ages 16 to 18, were kidnapped by this group.

Sometimes, ordinary citizens participate in kidnappings in order to line their pockets, usually youths who are hired by rich men to do their dirty business. The criminals will target rich families and sometimes demand  millions of naira.

The government of Anambra state issued a new law that changed the punishment for anyone caught kidnapping. The former governor of this state, Peter Obi, declared that offenders would be sentenced to death—and that anything purchased with ransom money, like a house or car, would be destroyed.

There are many causes of kidnapping around the globe and they include: Unemployment, Poverty, Illiteracy, Religion, Greed, Politics, Corruption

Below, we’ll examine each cause individually.

Unemployment

The high unemployment rate in many countries has forced citizens to find other ways to make money—and some of those ways are illegal. Kidnapping a rich person can be a lucrative business. A cash-strapped unemployed person may believe that when he kidnaps someone who is rich, he may be able to become rich himself.

Poverty

Any person who lives below $1.25 a day is living below the poverty line. Poverty can propel people toward crime as a way to make ends meet. Sometimes, a person who is poor might believe that kidnapping or other illegal acts could provide the necessary money to start a new life—a life that will no longer involve crime.

Illiteracy

Illiteracy is the inability to read or write. When people know how to read and write, they can gain the skills they need in order to become educated, get a job, and live a productive life. Literacy and education can also be an important foundation upon which to build a deeper understanding of moral judgment and decision making.

The kidnappings and bombings perpetrated by Boko Haram, the militant Islamic group in Nigeria, are caused by illiteracy, at least in part. The leaders of this group feed their men false information, which the men cannot disprove by reading outside sources. Boko Haram fighters engage in suicide bombings, killings, and kidnappings. They are told that if they die while carrying out their mission, they will inherit the kingdom.

Religion

Many kidnappings in the world today have their root cause in religion. Some people love their religion so much that even when it teaches them something that is wrong, they believe it is right. One religious leader may want to take over another group—and order his men to kidnap his rivals.

Greed

Some people are not contented with what they have and wish they could buy more and more things—whether it’s fancy clothes, cars, houses, or jewelry. This kind of persons may turn to crime to make more money. A wicked businessman can kidnap his business rival for a large ransom to become richer.

Politics

Corrupt politicians may arrange for the kidnapping of their opponents. Sometimes, they do this so that their opponents will make concessions or change their votes on the issues.

Corruption

A society where corruption is rife is likely to experience a high level of kidnapping. The truth is that if a government is corrupt and embezzles public funds, citizens may react by kidnapping those corrupt politicians in an attempt to recoup some of the stolen money.

There are many  solutions that may help reduce the rate of kidnapping in Nigeria. They include the following:

Training Anti-Kidnapping Agents

Any country that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must hire and train capable agents to combat the issue. When law enforcement agencies are actively involved, the incidence of this crime can be lessened.

Monitoring the Police

Reports show that the police are involved in some kidnappings. Notable examples have occurred in Mexico. Eliminating the criminals within the ranks of law enforcement is key.

Serious Punishments for Offenders

Mild punishment does nothing to deter criminals. When the government treats kidnappers harshly, fewer 

abductions will occur.

Job Creation

Generating jobs for citizens, especially for the youth, can have a huge impact in the fight against crime. When people are gainfully employed, they would have limited time to be involved in crime.

 Taiwo Suliyat Morenikeji

OS/20B/1260 

Mass communication