The Scourge of Kidnapping in Nigeria: A Complex Issue

By Comfort Udeme

National security encompasses protection of a nation’s citizen’s, economy, institution and interests from various threats both domestic and foreign. Government has a responsibility to protect their citizens from harm including the threat of kidnapping.

Kidnapping is a complex issue that affects individuals, communities, and societies in Nigeria. The Northwest regions, particularly Kaduna, Borno and Katsina are most affected due to boko haram activities which have contributed to the high number of kidnappings, with notable incidents including the chibok schoolgirls abduction in 2014, where 276 students were taken in Borno State. Many girls were forced into marriage, and some were sold into slavery.

In Nigeria, poverty and unemployment are major factors to kidnapping. In many cases, individuals or groups may turn to kidnapping as a means to address their economic needs or grievances. In addition, Nigeria has one of the highest poverty rates in the world, with over 40% of the population living below poverty line, income inequality and limited access to basic services.

Furthermore , the country experiences high rate of unemployment,with 20% of the rate work farce unemployed, limited job opportunities and youth unemployment. Weak law enforcement and judicial systems enable kidnappers to operate with relative impunity (corruption). Some kidnappings are driven by political or ideological goals, inadequate transportation infrastructure facilities and the prevalence of cash transactions makes it easier for kidnapping to receive ransoms.

As a result of kidnapping, victims and their families experience emotional distress and sometimes families often sell valuables or lose livelihoods to pay ransoms. Kidnapping leads to displacement of people and disruption of social and economic activities, it also causes high blood pressure in the families of the victim involved in kidnapping and most people die due to the huge amount of ransom demanded from kidnappers.

To address the kidnapping issues, the Nigeria government should take a multifaceted approach. This includes strengthening law enforcement by providing police officers with specialised training in kidnapping investigations and response. This would enable them to effectively prevent and response to kidnappings and improve intelligence gathering.

Additionally, The government should address the root cause of kidnapping, such as poverty and unemployment. They can do this by implementing poverty reduction programs and create job opportunities to reduce alternative to kidnapping. Moreover, they should invest in education and skills development to empower individuals and reduce vulnerability to kidnapping.

In conclusion, the government should launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on kidnapping preventions and response. The safety of every citizens should be guaranteed by the government in order to gain more trust from the public, government should address kidnapping and promote community safety. By taking these steps, the Nigeria government can effectively address the kidnapping issues and promote safety and security for its the people and the people shall not perish from the health ” – Abraham Lincoln

THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ANY GOVERNMENT, AND ADDRESSING KIDNAPPING IS ESSENTIALLY TO MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRUST.