CHIROMA Comple
CHIROMA Comple
CHIROMA Comple
BY
UG16/ASPS/1141
SCIENCE
i
DECLARATION
proclaim that this project work is the output of my intelligent research. It is neither
been embodied in any other recorded material nor has it been borrowed from recently
published works. All literatures examined and other materials utilized herein are
Bibliography.
…………………………… ……………………………..
Ciroma Ishaq Yahuza Date
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CERTIFICATION
This project has been read, approved and certified to have been carried out in its
partial fulfillment for the award of Bachelor of Science (B. Sc. Hons) Degree in
………………………………… ……………………………...
Mal. Bashir Abdullahi Date
Project Supervisor
………………………………… ……………………………...
Mr. James Abdulnasir Date
Project coordinator
………………………………… ……………………………...
Dr. Ruth F. Kinge Date
Head of Department
………………………………… ……………………………...
External Examiner Date
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DEDICATION
I dedicated this project to all the casualties of kidnapping within and outside Nigeria
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to first and foremost to incept by expressing my infinite gratitude and
praise to Almighty Allah for making it possible for to meet a segment of my dreams.
Abdullahi, for his priceless amiability, effort, patience and kindness in reading
through this research work and offering necessary corrections, suggestions, timely
advice at every stage of this project, may Allah glorified you with Aljannatu Firdausy,
amen. I also thank Malam Idriss Abubakar for his assistance particularly at inception
of this study.
I'm equally grateful to all my lecturers especially Dr Ruth F. Kinge (HOD), Dr.
Mahmood Hassan, Mr. James Abdulnasir, Mr John Lamido, Malam Yusuf Sani Yusuf,
Mr Shedrack Danbaba and many more for guiding me and giving me an inspirational
entire life. I pray that may Allah bless you abundantly. Amen.
My earnest thanks and appreciation goes to my parents Alaramma Ishaq Jibrin and
Salamatu Ishaq for their empathy, cherishment, care, financial support and prayer as
well as Family members these are in persons of Sadeeya Ishaq, Huzaifa Ishaq, Zaliha
Ishaq, Safiyanu Ishaq, Luqman Ishaq, Jibrin Ishaq, and especially Yusuf Abdullahi for
my life. I'm giving a special thanks to my father's uncles Malam Abdullahi Abdullahi
(Ja'o), Suleiman Abdullahi and my step fathers Yunusa Jibrin, Hashimu Jibrin and late
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Shuaibu Jibrin may Allah bless you all.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Ibrahim Lai for his rewardable
accommodation, nurturance, and endurance throughout the course of this study. I also
owe warm appreciation to his wives Malama Aisha and Malama Khadeejah for their
I'm indebted to show sincere appreciation to Malam Jamil Makmang and Mr.
Muhammed for their financial support, timely advise, I thank you and may Allah bless
you. I equally thank Alhaji Adamu for his financial support may Allah bless you. I
Baffa Abdu, Aliyu Adamu Bulama, Abbas Ali Haruna, Aminu Shehu Lano
{Geographer) and I shall not forget my intimate blood friends in persons of Jafar Ardo,
Hassan Ardo Zailani Salihu, Abdulhameed Salihu, Abba Abubakar, Salihu Ahmad,
Yahya Muh'd and many more, may Allah bless you all.
Special appreciation goes to my lovely wife to be (at this juncture) Fatima Uthman
Ahmad (UmmuHaneepah) and the entire members of her family, I adore you all.
I also thank all the staff of my secondary school. (IOSS, B/Ladi) Plateau state,
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contribution of my colleagues in persons of Mukhtar Muhammad (certified reservoir
of knowledge), Ibrahim Abdullahi, Idris Ahmed (class rep), Hayatu Hassan Jingi,
Muhammad, Auwal Saeed, Ibrahim Umar (S-Tudu) Salihu B. Yero, Khaleed Isa, and
others that I did not mention. Once again, I'm very grateful for your assistance during
the course this academic journey may Allah bless you in abundance.
Finally, my gratitude goes to all which time and space wouldn‟t permit me to mention
their names have in one way or the other encouraged and supported me in the course
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ABSTRACT
Kidnapping is one of the main security challenges facing Nigerians in recent time.
Though it is not totally a new happening, yet, like a wild fire, it is adamantly increasing
and assuming a terrible exception. Kidnapping in Nigeria was considered as a thing
known to some specific regions of the state, extremely the Niger Delta region due to the
actions of the militants. Unfortunately, currently hardly if there is a region of the nation
that is not confronted with the danger of kidnapping thereby making it one of the most
destructive organized crimes in Nigeria. This is known in the rampant of kidnapping
cases being recorded and northwestern region (southern Kaduna in particular) being
the hotspot of the kidnapping. Secondary sources of data were utilized to examine the
effects of the kidnapping on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.
Structural-Functionalist Theory was employed as theoretical framework for the study.
The study found that causes of kidnapping in the study area include but not limited to
the lingering communal crisis, poverty, massive unemployment. Kidnapping has an
adverse effect on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna study by driven
away the potential global and national investors and it also badly affected the
interpersonal relationship. Based on the findings of the study, therefore, stoppage of
paying ransom to kidnapping, tackling the conflicts between farmers and cattle
breeders in Southern Kaduna, creation of jobs for youth and serious penalty for those
possessing illegal weapons are recommended to handled the upsurge of kidnapping.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
DECLARATION............................................................................................................ii
DEDICATION .............................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................. v
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
ix
CHAPTER TWO
2.4.3 Criticism.............................................................................................................. 37
CHAPTER THREE
x
3.5 Kidnapping and Socio-Economic Development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria
at Large ........................................................................................................................ 42
CHAPTER FOUR
4.2.3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern Kaduna .... 48
4.3 The Extent of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern Part .................................. 52
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CHAPTER FIVE
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
the Holy books as the time of Prophet Joseph (peace be unto him) when he was
kidnapped by his brothers many centuries back. Nevertheless, the term „kidnapping‟ is
relatively a current which is asserted to have originated in the 17th century in the
Great Britain where 'children‟ of the noble families were „napped‟ (caught in the sleep)
for ransom (Tzanelli, 2006). Hence, while the incident of kidnapping is established as
an ancient one, the modes and dimensions it takes are what gains currency and
accounts for variations in its patterns as well as the diversity of its continuous
continent has the highest number of recorded kidnapping cases in the world, followed
by continent of Africa , then Latin America, Middle East and Europe. While Africa
was publicized to be the second continent witnessing the increased rate of kidnap for
ransom cases, Nigeria occupies the second position as the state with the highest
number of kidnapping incidents throughout the world. This rank positioned Nigeria in
a political to the global system and by implications decreases its prospects and
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tend to portray its prevalence in third world countries faced with internal disputes,
poverty and other social problems. Therefore, there is evidently a connection and
nexus between kidnapping and conflict, insurgency or terrorism (Wittig, 2018). This
For example, The Global Slavery Index (2014) disclosed that, greater number of
men, women and even children were kidnapped and held as slaves by ethnic
showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were
headlines of the country‟s dailies. Although, kidnap for ransom came to be more
confirmed in the country by early 2000s in the oil rich Niger Delta region by various
in the area as a means of attracting the attention of government and even global
communities to their danger plights. Consequently, a decade ago, one could safely
maintain that kidnap for ransom was completely an element of the Niger Delta.
2
attentions of both local and global communities. Since 2009 when the activities of
Boko Haram started to broaden in the north eastern Nigeria, unusual and hitherto
uncommon criminal activities in the region such as the kidnappings and abduction of
kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in
northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but
Customs Service and the current District head of Daura, Katsina state, the president‟s
home town, Alhaji Musa Uba, and the father of the Nigerian national teams captain,
John Obi Mikel in 2018. A report by the United Nations Children Education Fund
(UNICEF, 2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R, (2020), "from 2013 to 2018 more than
1,000 children had been abducted by the armed terrorists in the north east Nigeria
including the widely publicized abductions of 276 Chibok girls and 113 in Bond and
Yobe state respectively". Also, this monument indicates only a portion of the
unreported due to the volatility of the problem in the region and the inadequate media
coverage.
Presently, the north western Nigeria has particularly overtaken other areas of the
country in terms of the plague of kidnap for ransom. During the quarterly Northern
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Traditional Rulers‟ Council, the Acting Inspector-General of Police revealed that
79.8% of the national aggregate of kidnappings was reported in the three northern
geopolitical zones, with the North West being the hotspot, wherein 365 persons were
kidnapped in the early quarter of the year (Toromade, 2019) as cited in Ayuba, M.R.
(2020).
Simply like their counterparts in the Niger Delta who assaulted expatriates and
locals working in the international companies in the region, the kidnappers in the
north western Nigeria have made it traditional to kidnap not merely children and
high-net-worth personalities but also the needy people, an act that has plunged the
whole region into a state of intimidations and mistrust for both the rich and poor
residents in the region. For a region that is already considered as the impoverished
and most educationally behind in Nigeria, the raised of kidnapping will only deepen
the problem and further sink the region into serious insecurity challenges. The
condition is entirely grave in Kaduna state regarding its geographical location and its
closeness to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The high rate at which kidnapping
for ransom occurs in the state has taken a significant magnitude leaves much to be
needed as both local and foreign nationals can be victim. The abduction of two
Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively
ransom in Kaduna state due to the regularity and commonness of its happening hardly
couple of days without a recorded case of kidnapping despite the several security
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measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.
unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security
terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence
kidnapped for ransom on day-to-day basis. The communities of Southern Kaduna are
no longer comfortable and protected in their homes, farmlands, roads, offices and the
the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area.
Kaduna and Nigeria in general. This is necessary because despite measures meant to
tackle it, kidnapping is still on the increase in recent times. This requires a systematic
examination of the problem in order to identify factors responsible for its widespread
Nigeria in general.
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1.3. Research Questions
southern Kaduna?
Southern Kaduna.
Southern Kaduna.
Southern Kaduna.
Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.
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Financial constraint - Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the
researcher.
In sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of
Time constraint - The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other
academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research
work.
Despite the above-mentioned constraints, the researcher devoted and put great efforts
In recent years, Kidnapping is really alarming in Kaduna and the nation at large, The
extent and frequent occurrence of this insecurity in Southern Kaduna especially from
the periods of 2016 to 2019 has put the state and country in danger, tension, hence this
incident necessitated for this research and it is relevant because it will enlightened and
educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of
the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and
government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions
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1.8 Operational Definition of Key Concepts
i. Effect
ii. Kidnapping
political and religious to(struggle for) self determination". Kidnapping is also the
action of abducting someone and holding them captive. an act or instance or the crime
iv. Development
responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools,
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condition to a desirable level.
This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals,
internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content
1.10 Chapterization
significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, research methodology,
operationalization of concepts.
Chapter four (4) dwells on issue of Kidnapping, its effects on Southern Kaduna and
major findings.
And chapter five (5) contained summary, recommendations, conclusion, some and
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CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Introduction
This chapter reviews relevant previous researches on the subject matter of kidnapping
which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example,
adult within the territorial border zone comes under abduction while in Nigeria, the
terms are use as similar with little contrasts in terms of moral and lawful penalty
bound to it. In the study of Iyang and Abraham (2013) where they argued and
analyzed that hostage taking and hijacking, the victims are confiscated and
For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without
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Iyang and Ubong (2013) as cited by Ayuba, M. R. (2020), define kidnapping as
the use of force to capture, take away and detain a person unlawfully against his/her
will. This definition is in team with the conception of kidnapping in the criminal law
confine him/her against his/her will. It is usually done with multiple, yet, varying
reasons such as extraction of ransom from the victims or his/her relatives or employer,
Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables
imprisonment against their consent through force or enticement. This implies that
apart from forcible capture of persons, kidnapping also occurs by luring away the
victims and eventually forcefully confining them into false imprisonment. The
conceptions of kidnapping by the above researchers agrees with the English common
lawful excuse.
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In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping
taken away or snatched and detained against their will with the motive of extorting
ransom from them. Ngwama (2014) sees kidnapping as trampling of the fundamental
human rights of a person by another person or persons through the use of force to
subject the victim (the kidnapee) to false imprisonment and extortion of ransom. From
the definitions above, it can be inferred that, kidnapping is the unlawful use of force
against another person or persons with the intention of using such persons as means of
incidents of kidnappings being witnessed in the Niger Delta and recently northern
regions of Nigeria for the purpose of social, economic gains and/or political freedom.
It is pertinent at this juncture to clarify the ambiguities that often trail the use of the
and holding of someone prisoner illegally, usually demanding fir a ransom for his or
her release. Dode (2007) saw kidnapping as a process of forceful abducting a person
conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention
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capturing and detaining persons for ransom. Generally, kidnapping has come to mean
any illegal capture or detention of person or people against their will regardless of age
for ransom. Since 1768 the term "abduction" has always being used in this context. In
criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or exportation of a person against in false
imprisonment, confinement without legal authority, this is often done for ransom in
taking away of an individual against his 'free will' or by luring such a person for
illegal hostage (Uzorma & Nwanegbo 2014). The office of drugs and crime of the
United Nations (UNODC, 2017), has put kidnapping into different form and purposes
process, kidnapping between and amongst criminal groups to recover a lost or gain
advantage over a rival group, Kidnapping for sexual exploitation that's spouse or
children, kidnapping for political or ideological reason, and kidnapping for vengeance
purpose. The above classifications of kidnapping have put kidnapping either for
his comment as involving; "A person who unlawfully imprisoned, and take him out of
Nigeria without his consent or unlawfully imprisoned any person within Nigeria in
such a manner as to prevent him from applying to a court for release or from
discovering to any other person the place where he is imprisoned or in such a manner
as to prevent any person entitled to have access to him from discovering the place
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where he is imprisoned".
From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed
death of the victim. The opinion of Ugwu is practically true because as the kidnapping
offense is carried out in Nigeria and mostly Kaduna and its southern part is often
beyond the ransom since death is frequently the resultant effects for those who cannot
or whose family cannot meet up with the often extortion amount called out for a
ransom. Bryne and Taxman (2006) quipped that kidnapping is an intention, not an
inevitable reaction to hopeless atmosphere. Walsh and Adrian (1983) in their study
confinement of a someone by force against their will. Also as an act of seizing and
taking him or her to another country for involuntary servitude or the impressments of
crime. According to Thomas and Nta (2009) kidnapping is defined as a thievery of the
highest level. To them, it is a systematic and logical robbery which is not as deadly as
armed robbery, but more beneficial than former. In criminal law, Kidnapping is
defined as abducting person by force, threat or deceit with intent to cause him or her
to be detained against his or her will. Whereas Nwaorah (2009) views kidnapping as
an act of angry man who to crave to take any person of value hostage, and who could
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be salvaged by loves one. According to Ogabido, (2009) "kidnapping" means to
abduct, capture, carry off, remove and steal away a person(s). The Nigeria Penal Code
(16Feb, 2017), defined Kidnapping as when someone is said to have been reported
For proper knowledge of the act of kidnapping, study conducted by Okoli and
Agada (2014) where they observed three ingredients that need to be taken into
account: (i) taking one away against their consent; (ii) keeping one in false
imprisonment or illegal confinement; and (iii) extortion of ransom from the victim.
Therefore, numerous kinds and categories of kidnapping have been made and
Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),
course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities
plunge under this type; and c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional
psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,
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The kidnapping for ransom appear to be the most familiar in Nigeria where
prosperous people are being kidnaped in exchange for money. Furthermore, the
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC, 2019) observed kidnap for ransom as
one of five (5) basic categories of kidnapping. According to OSAC (2019) kidnap for
ransom is a main method used by kidnappers to source for funds with which to carry
out their illegal operations. It is considered as the oldest and the most prominent form
of kidnapping which concerns taking hostage in order to pull some money from their
and rich individuals comprise the larger group of the victims of this kind of
kidnapping. Many cases affecting foreigners in the country abound. For example, in
2015, an American missionary was seized in south of Abuja and a ransom cost
proxy bombings. It is a kind of kidnapping in which ransom is not craved; rather the
casualty is compelled into performing a certain action for the criminals like
threatening a banker to reveal the password of the locker of the bank in order to extort
from it. Occasionally, the victim could be abducted and coerced to plant an explosive
in a target (proxy bombing) which is very prevalent among militant groups through
Express kidnapping is the third kind of kidnapping and which is most familiar in
numerous parts of Africa and Latin America. It is, according to the OSAC (2019), "a
kidnapping that involves only the perpetrator and the victim where the victim is
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threatened by the criminal through the use of weapon or other dreadful means usually
to coerce them to make ATM withdrawals of maximum daily amount of cash. In some
instances the victim is held hostage to pass the night with the criminals, particularly
when the victim exceeds the daily maximum limit of withdrawals". Express
Apart from using weapon to physically compel the victim and get him/her do what
they like, the express kidnappers sometimes pop as taxi drivers or even police officers
For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed
airports as a leading security threat facing travellers into the country. The kidnappers,
clothed in police uniforms would ascend a checkpoint and stop the unfamiliar victim
to either rob him/her or snatch them for an express kidnapping. In most cases, the
victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the
the introduction of Uber in Nigeria is partly seen as a laudable initiative which helps
to deter the menace of express kidnapping in the country. However, the ride-share
evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to
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ideological kidnapping. This kidnapping is politically and/or ideologically encouraged.
Here, the casualties of kidnapping are held captive by their abductors to bargaining
for their partners who are being clenched by government as criminals. Hence, the
casualties are considered to have some type of kidnap ransom value; ransom value in
the sense that they are either personalities that the government cannot afford to reject
their kidnapping or for fear of relinquishing political relevancy. Again, this kind of
abduction could be carried out in order to achieve some negotiations benefit over the
government or simply for propaganda motives. Here, the casualty‟s close relatives has
limited or no role to play in obtaining the discharge of the victim, and as particular the
victims‟ destiny rests on the effect of the negotiations between his government and the
the publications.
The Boko Haram terrorist organization in the north eastern Nigeria have in
several circumstances abducted college children in Chibok and Dapchi of Borno and
Yobe states respectively. Prominent people in the state such as the retired president
Olusegun Obasanjo have performed as negotiators between the group and the
government on the negotiations table. The group has often negotiated for the swap of
the abducted kids with their confined partners. Accordingly, the political and
gangs or insurgents who frequently pick up arms against their state. For instance, one
of the extensively famous terrorist groups which engaged in this kind of kidnapping is
the Al-Qa‟ida which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an
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exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.
which, as the name indicates, involves the use of the victims details and everyday
routine by the criminals to contend having him with them through the use of an
accessory who deceives to be the hostage by screaming and shouting for support from
the family of the victim. This way the family of the casualties would be coerced to
send the demand ransom which is always not much so as to foster the family deliver
the money immediately. Meanwhile, the known victim might be somewhere engage in
his activities ignorant of what happened between his family and the criminals. Virtual
kidnapping is frequently targeted at people who live distant away from members of
their homes such as foreign pupils, those who work abroad or those in transit. It is a
fraud that exploits fear, fear and urgency (USSS, 2016) as cited in OSAC (2019) The
module and operation of the virtual kidnappers varies across space and time. In this
kind of kidnapping, the victim gets a call instructing him/her about the kidnapping of
their loved one thereby requesting a payment in order to secure his/her discharges. As
basis of the strategy, a co-conspirator is employed to play the part of the victim
though shouting and screaming so as to make them think that the abduction is true.
Okoli and Agada (2014) also identified and portrayed the following kinds of
kidnapping: bride, express and tiger kidnappings. By bride kidnapping, the authors
the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)
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Asian and African communities. This form of kidnapping was earlier examined by
Yang, Lung, and Huang (2007) as a cultural dimension of kidnapping, contending that
the bride kidnapping can be considered as cultural strategy of some Asian and African
traditional nations where bride is abducted against the will of her parents.
It frequently happens where the bride‟s family abstains to marry out their
daughter to the husband. Therefore, the bride conspires with the husband and goes off
to where they can get wedded and finalize as a couple (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). What
modifies this act as kidnapping is taken away of the bride without the approval of her
make a quick and „express‟ money through coercing the victim to withdraw from an
ATM. It usually does not last long as the victim usually is set free except if he/she
proves uncooperative with the criminals. Hence, Okoli and Agada (2014) describe this
kidnapping often does not involve huge amount of money, rather it is informed by the
desire of the kidnappers to extort a small ransom that the victims‟ family or business
associates can quickly raise in short time (Mohammed, 2008). However, this type of
kidnapping, which mainly occurs in developing Asian and African countries, is often
media both print and electronic. For example, the kidnapping of a lady travelling to
Port Harcourt in 2011 and who was released upon payment of a ransom in hundreds
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The third category of kidnapping identified by Okoli and Agada (2014) is tiger
kidnapping, and it refers to the process of holding a victim as a hostage with the view
spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an
Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following
motives:
by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort
growing enterprise and business for that sense, kidnappers are businessmen merely
appeared to be in the unlawful sideway of it (Akpan, 2010 & Nwede 2017). Hence,
the financial advantage develops from it inspires the perpetrators to maintain it and
It needs fewer people and help to get one affected in the act of kidnapping a
victim in a well-coordinated and executed manner, and the casualty‟s families are then
called for ransom subject to negotiation. In this case thus, the economic benefit of the
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entire operation (immediate pay-off) is a „pull‟ and motivating circumstance of the
incident (Ani &Nweke, 2014). On the other hand, there are „push‟ motivating
ingredients, such as: the increasing poverty, joblessness and unemployment among the
teeming teenagers of creative age amid of untapped substantial human and natural
resources, makes kidnapping an alternative business for the kidnappers to strongly get
a percentage of the abundant wealth. Also, the pervasive corruption that has consumed
deep into the fabrics of Nigerian state, has participated in fueling and instigating
kidnapping activities in the state. The psyche of nothing is sacred, by legitimizing any
means of money achieving has attained friction disorder for getting wealthy at all
expense among Nigerians. The political administration in the country lacks moral
support to deter itself from destroying the social patrimony (Ottuh, 2017; Nwede,
Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study
unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for
hence, the act is targeted to political heads or foreign diplomats/contractors as the case
may be for negotiation of grave ransom. When target is accomplished, the ransom is
Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto
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prevailing crimes in the country such as armed-robbery and pick-pocketing.
young, teens and adult could plunge a victim of the idle-minds for ransom to be paid.
Criminal thieves have now embark into kidnapping of this category to make a living,
with gaining awareness of the public but only when, where and who could be the
Akpan (2010) studied the origin of Kidnapping using both primary and secondary
sources of data collection and his study reveals that, Kidnapping; .the historical
establishment of oil companies in Niger Delta began with Shell BP in 1956, since then
companies flooded the region, collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who reported in media
that the movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta initially indulge in
kidnapping to draw attention of national and international the plight of people in the
particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the
with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the
of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger
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Kidnapping might have moderately lengthy record in Nigeria committed at low
degree for ritual money making assumed to be a rudimentary behavior and activity
intended for obtaining illicit wealth (Akpan, & Badiora, 2015). Most victims were
people who away from public setting who are being murdered mercilessly. The
were easily differentiated from armed robbers or small thieves who are only after
wealth and other precious things. In fact, they are being feared more than the armed
robbers, this is because while armed criminals appeared well armed physically, the
persuade them with attraction adornments and ornaments to have them taken off to
their hideaway (Ani & Nweke, 2014). The casualties are then slaughtered and have
some of their parts cut off for ritual motives. But nowadays kidnapping is no longer
for rituals motive, it has altered from ritual objectives to modernized enterprise for big
1984 in its venture to repatriate from London an ex-minister Umaru Dikko who was
claimed to have stolen $1b during his time as a minister in charge of Transport. The
root of kidnapping in Nigeria according to Townsend (2008) and other scholars below
as cited by Badamasi, S. Ummu Atiya and Dr. Kamarul Zaman (2018) "National
resources Nationalism" the tendency for an ethnic to strive for lion share of returns
from the natural resources found in their region. That's the clamoring by locals of the
oil producing Niger Delta region to adequate and bigger share of the fortune made
24
from the resources gotten in their lands (Essien & Ema, 2013).
The nations have been complaining peacefully for decades against the injustice,
unto recently when such complaint took destructive form (Essien & Ema, 2013). The
implication of kidnapping do not only encompass government but also oil nationals
(Chidi & Uche, 2015). Turner (2008) in his study of kidnapping opined that the
liberation fight by the militants fighting for the degradation of their climate by
industrial activities. Since then, Kidnapping become an everyday events and it has
circulated like wildfire throughout the south-south states and southwest is not left,
Kidnapping is very prevalent in Lagos and other western states, later it sharply
scatters to Northeast where a horrendous kidnapping was reported on 14th April, 2014
where over 200 Chibok secondary school girls in Borno state were abducted by the
national cancer, with boys now cheerfully enrolling due to the economic downturn of
Nigerian population in early 2015 and economic profits connected to it. The
kidnapping has persisted to be spreading with its frequent reoccurring in North West
of Nigeria and Kaduna state being the hotspot especially it's southern parts.
Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky
25
atmosphere and a security breakdown in the state and country at large. It's emergence,
continual happenings from 2016 to 2019, have become as source of disturbing and
concern with hundreds of people from numerous socioeconomic levels are being
least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms.
According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on
Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring
captive was discharged without paying ransoms, some paid as low as 50,000 only,
(Abdulrahman, 2018).
The good people of Kaduna state are no longer secured and safe in their homes,
offices, highways, farmlands, and even commuters and passersby on main streets
within the state. Clearly, the police commissioner in the state have testify the growth
conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial
zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji
communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between
26
cattle breeders and farmers.
Kaduna-Abuja highway
The road is about 211km; it is gateway to the federal capital territory for most states
in the northwest zone in Nigeria. No limited than seven (7) leading individuals have
been abducted along the road, among the casualties including the retired minister,
serving state and federal lawmakers as well as foreign immigrants and even travelers
are not protected as armed bandits kidnap their targets randomly. According to a
victim as broadcasted by Channel television June, 2017, "The men are wearing army
dresses, after stopping the vehicle, thinking they are military staff on duty to inspect
Similarly NTA news (April 14, 2017) has broadcasted a distinct category of
kidnapping taking place in Kaduna by a kidnap Gang led by Dominic Nwacor. The
gang has taken their activity to the degree of business by hiring luxurious lodgings to
use as hideaway of their casualties, rather taking them to forest as usual. One of these
newspapers of June 24th, 2017, have revealed that, a serving Member of Parliament
(MP) from one of the northern states was kidnaped along Kaduna-Abuja highway and
N10million was noted to have been paid before his released. A statement by police
command unit in Kaduna has ensured the abduction of the Sieraleonan diplomat along
with top rank managers of a private company around JereKateri along Kaduna Abuja
27
streets, (NTA news, 2016).
Silverbird station on 1st April 2017 has broadcasted the kidnapping of three
clergymen including the president of united church of Christ Rev. Emanuel Dziggau,
Rev. Yakubu Darma and Rev. Keah Antih on 20th March, 2017 along Kaduna Abuja
highway by gunmen and only gained discharged after 10 days in imprisonment with
one of the hostages dead., thus kidnapping is repeatedly happening in this road with
little or no public attention. Residents of Sabin Gaya community along the Kaduna
Abuja express way in Chikun local government area Kaduna state recently requested
On November 13th, 2017, villages blocked the Kaduna Abuja highway protesting
of death of commander of the civilian JTF in the area Harma Halilin, by suspected
who was traveling in a commercial bus when armed men believed to be kidnappers
attacked at 6:30am at Sabin Wise Area along Kaduna Abuja highway and abducted
him and later assassinated him. Therefore, suspected kidnappers have murdered at
least 18 innocent people in Rijana village along Kaduna Abuja express way for giving
28
Kaduna-Zaria highway
This road is another axis for notoriety by kidnappers, particularly small towns
such as Mararaba, Birnin Yero and Jaji, home of military formation. The problem is
becoming scarier as even army officers (off duty) are becoming casualties, Vanguard
June, 2017, has broadcasted that a serving officer on course at Jaji military
cantonment was kidnaped a few kilometers after Mararaba and the kidnappers
requested for 1.5 million from the family to ensure his freedom. It is very painful as
recorded by the national daily that, some serving police staff was part of the
negotiations strategy of the abducted army officer Vanguard June 24th, (2017).
The forest densities of this highway have become another notorious hideout of
kidnappers and other criminal activities, every person can be kidnap irrespective of
his economic status and the near villages are also not safe.
here is that the effects of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna has vividly become the gap
of this study, hence this study intends investigate the effects of kidnapping on
29
2.3 Empirical Literature Review
Ayuba M.R., (2020), studied the catalysts (causes) of kidnapping in Kaduna state
using primary sources of data where qualitative techniques was used in which a
purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty,
kidnappers and insecurity are some of the catalysts of kidnapping in Kaduna State and
its southern areas. Based on these findings, therefore, refusal to pay for ransom to
select 150 respondents from ten communities. Primary data were obtained using
structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data
analysis. The result shows that all of the respondents had formal education while
majority (63.0%) were male and, of average age of 44years. Their investigation
revealed show that the major causes of kidnapping in the study area are moral
decadence/quest to get rich quick without work (x̅ =3.47), cultism/quest for
supremacy (x̅ =3.43), politics and insecurity (x̅ =3.37), proliferation of arms (x̅ =3.26)
and unemployment (x̅ =2.94). Kidnapping poses very serious effect on all the
30
indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),
(x̅ =3.78), army of unemployed youths (x̅ =3.60) complicity of some security agents
(x̅ =3.56) and poor security network (x̅ =3.55) inhibit the eradication of kidnapping in
the study area. The study recommends that there should be collaboration between
Nigeria and his research has indicated that the contemporary wave of kidnapping has
deepened the massive unemployment and faulty labor market and generated
unfriendly territory for economic development. His findings revealed that, the
kidnapping has serious negative implications on the economy and labor market, it
spread a fear and intimidation that hinders direct economic investment in the area
where such crimes are immortalized. This in the short and long term leads to
worsened and declined economic productivity and unemployment and a danger to the
country. Omar (2010), President of Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) cited in Umejei
(2010), lamented that the criminal venture was endangering the very foundation of the
Nigerian economy. Not only does it have adverse implication on the economy, this
crime (kidnapping) composes a serious threat to the Nigerian labor market which had
already been destroyed. To Omar, the seizure of laborers was the final nail that the
31
explained: “it will be dangerous times in view of the general state of insecurity in our
country. Kidnapping in particular has become the norm such that even poor workers
The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen
national economy. His findings revealed that kidnapping is always on the rise in
Nigeria and is not evenly spread across regions. It is indicated that 15 cases were
reported in 2005 and 43 cases in 2008. In 2009, 138 cases were officially reported, of
which 22% and 76% occurred in Rivers and Edo states respectively. Findings further
politicians and members of their families. The problem, which appeared to the fore in
2005, has compelled oil production shutdowns of up to 800 000 barrels per day. The
From the examined literatures above, it is clear that large number of the researchers
concentrated mostly on the origin, causes, effects of kidnapping on labor markets and
many studies were conducted in South-South of Nigeria, the implication here is that
32
2.4 Theoretical Framework
thought according to which each society is made up of many parts that collectively
perform positive role to keep the society in relative harmony, peaceful and in progress.
According to the theory each of these institutions, relationships, functions, and norms
that together compose a nation performs a purpose, and each is essential for the
within the social system. When some part of an integrated social system changes, a
conflict between this and other parts of the system is established, this will be settled
by the adaptive alteration of the other parts. Within this theory, role refers to the
system. Structural-functionalist theory is a theory that seeks to explain why and how
society maintains and sustains its stability and keep running effectively.
Functionalism developed in the early 20th century and is related with writers such
as Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, Herbert Spencer, and Robert Merton (1968),
The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex
performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organism
fails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies
33
to society that it is made up of several parts which play vital functions for the stability,
harmony, safety, order and productivity within the society. Emile Durkheim
for the survival continuity of the society and advocates posited that the different parts
of the society are primarily social institutions, each developed to fill several needs and
when part is no longer performing a vital function it will die away, and will not be
Functionalist theorists asserted that the parts (institutions) that help society
maintain its stability and solidarity include norms, family, economy, government,
media, education, religion, health among others. Functionalist theory further argues
that in many societies, government as an institution in the nation, gives education for
the pupils of the family, which in turn pay taxes the government relies on to maintain
operating effectively. The family relies on school to help pupils grow up to have
decent jobs, so they can raise and help their own families. In the process youngsters
become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who assist the society. According to the
theorist if all goes satisfactorily the nation will produce and achieve development,
The theory further stressed that if one part or institution is dysfunctional (may be
the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will
34
2.4.1 Central Idea of Functionalist Theory
task of understanding the possible stability and internal cohesion required by nations
to endure over time. Societies are seen as coherent, bounded and fundamentally
relational constructs that function like organisms, with their numerous parts (or social
accomplishing a general social balance. All social and cultural phenomena are hence
seen as useful in the sense of working together, and are effectively considered to have
"lives" of their own. They are mainly evaluated in terms of this function. The
individual is important not in and of himself but instead in terms of his reputation, his
responsibility in patterns of social connections, and the behaviors attributed with his
1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which
3. It also maintained that the failure of one institution to perform its routine
function, will affect the other parts and this will lead to the emergence of
social problems.
4. The theory sees the society as a living organism made up of components part,
which functions harmoniously for the survival of the entire system. If any
35
parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function
neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will
When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria
speculates that, the economy which is component of the social system is not working
well. This is due to the mismanagement that arises within the political sector. This
denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate
significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such
serve as a barrier for the security agencies to perform their functions as earmarked in
maintaining peace in the area. The offense of kidnapping has been observed as
to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security
36
institution ceases to performed its vital role, it will badly affect the whole society,
hence what is occurring in Kaduna state and Southern Kaduna in specific where
government as an institution that ensures the protection of the lives and property is
This problem has terribly affected multiple families. The families of Southern
Kaduna sacrificed so much money that they could use to assist their pupils in paying
ransoms for the released of the casualties of abduction. The theory assumes that social
committed. The theory also emphasized that for a society to developed, maintain its
stability, peace, order and harmony, the structures and institutions that made up the
society must be strengthen, enhanced, improved and standardize to meet its functions
2.4.3 Criticism
In the 1960s, functionalism was castigated for being incapable to account for social
change, or for structural rejections and conflict (and thus was often called "consensus
theory").
concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the
37
Another criticism grounded against the functionalist theory is on the organic unity of
the society which must be mentioned for social system to exist as well as the way in
Another criticism describes the ontological assertion that society cannot have "needs"
as a human being does, and even if society does have needs they need not be met.
Despite the drawbacks of the theory, it is still very vital for explaining the way
society stay stable and functional. Functionalism is very impactful because it looks at
every aspect of society, how it functions, and how that helps society function. This
theory helps combine all aspects of society to meet the needs of the individuals in the
society. Functionalism shows us how our society stays balance. The theory is very
38
CHAPTER THREE
KADUNA STATE
3.1 Introduction
Kaduna.
Kaduna state was established on 27th May, 1967 out of the former Northern region by
the then government of General Murtala Mohammed. Katsina State was created out of
importance as the former administrative headquarters of the North during the colonial
period. The state shares borders with Niger State to the west, Zamfara, Katsina and
Kano states to the north, Bauchi and Plateau States to the east and FCT Abuja and
Zaria is one of the crucial communities in Kaduna state and is very prosperous in
history. Queen Amina ruled Zaria and was remembered as an outstanding heroin her
sovereignty extended as far to Bauchi in the east and extending as distant south as the
River Niger. She built a walled town wherever she acquired. Kadunna State
39
contributes the meeting juncture of the earlier histories of Nigeria. It is the residence
of Nok which provided its name to the ancients culture of Nigeria - the Nok culture.
Farming is the major stay of the economy of Kaduna state with approximately
80% of the population industriously committed in agriculture. Cash and food crops
are developed and the harvest includes: yam, cotton, groundnut, tobacco, maize, beans,
guinea corn, millet, ginger, rice and cassava. Around 180,000 tonnes of groundnut are
generated in the state yearly. The main cash harvest is cotton which the region has a
employment of the people is animals farming and poultry agriculture. The animal
raised includes cattle, sheep, goats and pigs (Bank of Agriculture, 2020)
Kaduna state is consecrated with minerals which constitute clay, serpentine, asbestos,
amethyst, kyannite, gold, graphite and siltimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon
Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural
manufacturing industries.
assembly, toiletries and cigarettes in the region. Customer goods generated range from
dairy commodities to soft drinks, flour and groundnut oil. Leading enterprises in the
state are the Federal Super Phosphate Fertilizer Company PLC, Ideal Flour Mills PLC,
40
New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United
Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refridgerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna
Britannica, 2019).
There is more over the National Leather Research Institute, Zaria, the Defence
Industries Corporation of Nigeria and the country's third petroleum refinery are
similarly located in Kaduna State. Kaduna state has several tourist inducements and
relaxed five notable hotels such as Durbar and Hamdala Hotels, among others, Tourist
attractions comprise the Nok Cultural Safe at Kuwi in Jema's Local Government Area,
the Maitsirga Water falls in Kafanchan, the Legendary Lord Lugard bridge in Kaduna
town, the Kerfena Hills in Zaria and the Palace of the Emir of Zaria. There are again
Kaduna State has twenty three Local Government areas out of which Southern
Kaduna has eight, while northern Kaduna has fifteen. Southern Kaduna refers to the
area located to the south of Kaduna city, the capital of the state. The area shares
common boundary to the Northwestern and east with the Jos Plateau and Bauchi and
to the south, with the Federal Capital Territory. Today, the eight local government
areas of Southern Kaduna, namely, Jaba, Jema'a, Kachia, Kagarko, Kaura, Kauru,
Sanga and Zangon Kataf constitute one senatorial district out of the three senatorial
41
largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem,
Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on.
The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern
Muslims who form a majority population in the state. According to the 2006 National
Population Census result, Kaduna state has a population of 6,792,169. The eight local
less than 30% of the state's population (Nat. Population census, 2006).
Due to good and favorable weather and climate, Southern Kaduna witnessed an
influx of several ethnic groups into the area from about the sixteenth century. The
issue of who arrived in the area first among the various ethnic groups is
understandably a subject of dispute among the people. The main occupation of the
Nigeria at Large
state and its southern parts has an obvious implication on the interested foreign
investors in the state and the nation in general. On the account of the systematic
citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including
42
Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state.
Kaduna state. Kidnapping does not only scare away foreign investors, but also pulled
down the image of the state in eyes of local investors, travelers as well as those who
may wish to settle in the state. The proliferation of the nefarious incidence the state in
2016 and 2019, has implicated the courage and enthusiasm of the people particularly
The good people of Kaduna state are no longer paying visit to their own families
in the villages, even agriculturists frightened going to the farm for fear of falling a
casualty. This will in turn affect the farming outputs and food supply despite the
availability of maximum rain. Also, there is evolving feeling that ransom paid to free
the casualties are used to obtain additional weapons by the kidnappers for other
aspects of lawlessness such as robbery and cattle rustling in the state. Bad economic
developed to internal attack against higher and lower average living nationals in the
state. Kaduna state government in 2017 budget was noted to have wasted about two
The life style of some citizens within and outside Kaduna city has drastically
changed due to rising insecurity, with many citizens imprisoned (indoor) themselves
in offices and homes. Many have built houses, but deliberately failed to complete the
casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders
43
called „”achaba”‟ to withhold their economic level in their day-to-day activities. The
problem has implicated the reciprocal reliance and generous African attitudes among
The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same
development and inefficient power supply in the state and by addition Nigeria.
Accordingly, people on the highway would hardly be ready to help for direction
advice, due to mistrust and fear to risk abduction. Since its escalation from 2016,
many residents of Kaduna city and setting have only restrict their movement around
their vicinity, which in turn affected business activities social relationships in the
state.
44
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Introduction
One of the goals of this research has been to examine the cause of kidnapping in
Southern Kaduna.
The publications are full with so numerous findings about the motivating
circumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factors
sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating
(Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).
45
4.2.1 Unemployment
Shortages of job opportunities have been observed as drivers of kidnap for ransom
events in Nigeria (Ohakhire, 2010; Ogbuehi, 2018; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017). A
major driver of kidnap for ransom which is largely committed by the youths. The idea
here is that year-in, year-out able-bodied graduates are being generated in huge
amount without conforming job opportunities to assimilate them. Hence, the crooked
crimes and negligence in the state. Additional study by Inyang and Ubong (2013) also
associated the increase in kidnap for ransom occurrences to the frustration occasioned
by the joblessness of the youths whose emotional commitments rise without any
(2010) contended that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is liable for the common
kidnapping incidents across the nation. It is too elevated that it masquerades severe
emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation
generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their
46
wise-adage goes, “An idle mind is the devil's workshop.”
In Nigeria, several jobless youths are poverty plagued and usually find
convenience in terrible scandals such as kidnapping because they are jobless and
impoverished in the sense that school drop-out and graduates roam around the streets,
4.2.2. Poverty
in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximum
crude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as the
biggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in the
globe (Gwaambuka, 2018). Similarly, the country is the richest in Africa in terms of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculated at 397.30 billion US dollars in 2018, and a
Foreign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and
However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as the
center of poverty with half of her people, around 87 million citizens, living in severe
scarcity on less than 1.90 US dollar a day; and that in every sixty seconds six
Nigerians slink into poverty (Onu, Bax, Adamu and Ibukun, 2019). Evaluating the
above tragic image about the social and economic fact of the state, it is no shock that
Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor
47
weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived
essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal
unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.
only in Nigeria but across the globe. Arewa (2013) substantiates the correlation
between poverty and criminality arguing that, Nigerians are undergoing from
economic denial and its consequential criminality because the nation as a whole is
Kaduna
Ibrahim and Mukhtar (2017) affirmed that the motivating conditions for kidnapping in
Nigeria go beyond mere classifying them into these two common types. They swung
their assertion on the fact that, the goals and purposes of the criminals with concern to
kidnapping acts differ. While some of the delinquents kidnap for motives varying
from slavery, ritual, sex, trafficking to foreign nations for pandering, and other illicit
activities, others indulge into kidnapping for the motives of adoption, marriage,
begging, camel racing, retaliation, killing and ransom. These numerous objectives
account for the explanation that, there is no mono-causal rationale for the concept of
kidnapping as its drivers are inferred by the expectations and goals of the perpetrators.
48
has a nexus with communal crisis.
Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome have
Ubong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get rich
syndrome, Nnamani (2015) contended that the exhibit of funds by the rich people
associated with the societal emphasis on material wealth, and the functions played by
especially the traditional rulers in bestowing traditional titles to any affluent person
without challenging the basis of their wealth makes some youths venture into
This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite
unexpectedly comes out with material wealth yet nobody dare question the source of
their sudden wealth. This motivates moral decadence as so multiple unhappy youth
yearning for to be like them would not flinch to mortgage their sincerity to obtain
wealth regardless of the means. In line with this, Inyang and Ubong (2013) propose
brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.
Other factors recognized as driving kidnapping comprise easy access to hard drugs
and upsurge of arms and military tools (Nnamani, 2015). In his study, Nnamani
proclaimed that there is intense relationship between easy access to hard drugs and
49
preponderance of kidnap for ransom. This assertion is pivoted on the fact that the
modus operations of the kidnappers are so violent that it can merely be perpetrated by
Inyang (2009) on his part indicates the majority of kidnapping to the increase of
arms in the country. Nigeria is said to account for about 70% of criminal small arms
in West Africa (Eribake, 2016), highest of which enter into the nation through its
passable frontiers. Failure of the security apparatus of the Nigerian government over
time, with chronic disputes incidents has greatly boldened the strength of kidnappers.
According to Ibrahim & Mukhtar (2017), numerous youths find themselves becoming
kidnappers because they were sufferers of ethnic or religious dispute condition who
had been radicalize and forfeited their belongings, in that respect lost confidence in
either from their ethnic, religious or politicians supporters against their enemies in a
dispute condition, or through jeopardizing security staff from which they later utilize
for abduction.
politics played in the nation where competent bodied youths are usually recruited and
trained with projectiles during election campaigns to serve as guards and political
criminals of their pay masters. As soon as the elections are past, these youths (thugs)
are made worthless as they usually do not have any employable capabilities or talents,
even where they do; they are hardly rewarded with jobs or any gainful assistance.
50
Therefore, in order to manage, they employ the arms given to them by their political
champions in illegal means to make a living. Still, other researchers are of the view,
(2010), Nnamani (2015) disseminated the opinion that, bad and corrupt governance
are the conditions liable for the rise in kidnapping occurrences in Nigeria.
Though, Ogbuehi (2018) argues that some people use kidnapping as a means of
taking vengeance or political vendetta. This occurs in some instances among the
politicians and sometimes among the ordinary citizens, particularly among the Fulani
Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem
Oyewole S, (2016) in his study, opinion that one of the main reasons of kidnapping in
Nigeria is the preponderance of ritual and spiritual proneness. Kidnapping for ritual
involves assassinating or severing the body part of abducted individuals for the
protection and victory in elections from virtuous forces by manipulating ritual, charms
and many structures of cultic exercises. It was observed that politicians utilized all
51
Kidnapping for ritual is an illegal convulsion of an individual in order to kill and/or
sever part of his or her body for the intention of ritual sacrifice. Meanwhile, many
people were kidnapped with their head being cut off, eyes eliminated, genital and
breast slashed, arm and leg injured. All these part of the body are being cut off as
Kaduna State in North West Nigeria has suffered a near tripling of destructive
occurrences involving armed groups in the past year. According to the Armed Conflict
Location and Event Data Project, the 220 violent incidents have resulted in
approximately a thousand casualties. Also, there have been about 400 individuals
abducted for ransom and hundreds of districts demolished resulting in the expulsion
Over the last year, Kaduna has reported the elevated number of incidents of
political turmoil and victims in northern Nigeria save Borno State the core of the
kidnapping for ransom happening was found to be one of the great prevalent and
pervasive violations in north western Nigeria primarily Southern Kaduna. This view
General of Police who publicized that 79.8% of the national total of kidnappings was
recorded in the three northern geopolitical zones, with northwest being the hotspot
52
4.4 Socioeconomic Effect of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna and at Large
Nigeria
The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic,
effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed
The economic consequences of kidnapping comprise direct and indirect costs. At the
individual degree, the expenses include the economic value of money that may be lost
expenditure on security and security mechanisms. Much wealth has been wasted on
ransom payments. The former Inspector General, Sir. Mike Okiro, published that 15
billion naira have been paid as ransom to kidnappers between 2006 and 2009. The
enormous sum of money paid as ransom payment could involves the State economy
negatively, as it could have been utilize for investment and economic improvement.
working in the international oil corporations are assaulted. Out of uncertainty, people
tend to stay open from the working atmosphere and the antagonistic consequence is
invariably on the economy (Dode, 2010). Ransom paying for discharge of fatalities of
kidnap frequently affects both the government and family economy. Many people
53
usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of
Kidnappers.
usually targeted, the implication is constantly felt extremely within the household,
whereby fellows of such families will have to feed themselves and modify to their
normal daily recreations, until they achieved the discharge of the casualty. Ekpe,
2009,: cited Iyang & Abraham, 2013, if the tendency of Kidnapping proceeds, future
advancement subordinate could be moved away and Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at
could hampered the majority of investment and capital accumulation Nigeria from
overseas for national development. Kaduna state government in 2017 budget was
broadcasted to have wasted approximately two billion naira on security alone (Sahara
reporters, 2017).
was a business man or woman, the industry will undergo some obstacle pending his or
her rescue. In a formal company, the challenges are tremendous as the absence of the
casualty will cause hardship within the system, and the production will automatically
be affected as well.
implicates the social life and social connections of several people who are carried
captives in their homes from dusk to morning, for the suspicion of being kidnapped.
54
As a result of kidnapping, night trip has become a high-risk venture. Similarly,
numerous people have been compelled out of their recently completed buildings by
painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or
creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) "an
innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated
kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social
The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of
displacement, land occupation and kidnappings for ransom. Children and teachers in
Southern Kaduna are no longer safe in schools and places of worship because the
they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvest and this
circumstance created poverty, starvations and other social vices. Most devastating, it
55
has been remarked that, it is the anxiety of kidnapping that has contributed to the
current elevated need for police escort by various public officials in the state, thereby
further weakening the ineffective police personnel that could have been deployed to
development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public
event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct
tendency of kidnapping in Nigeria has, more than anything else, created security and
economic climate that hinder bearable national development. In the words of Raheeb:
In the midst of all these, the Nigerian economy is the utmost fatality. The nation
suffers the tremendous brutal of the entire story. This comprises poor and adverse
to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels,
and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are
56
some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
and Nigeria.
Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip
competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are
Government should strive to make the security agencies very powerful and all the
needed equipment to facilitate them to perform their duties effectively should be made
functional. When the security agencies are empowered with contemporary equipment,
they will feel motivated to always ready to eradicate this devastating illegal activities.
Soft penalty does nothing to prevent criminals. When the government deals with
kidnappers severely, rarer kidnappings will occur because it is widely known that
even if the kidnappers are caught they get released without facing the actual penalty.
Job Creation
Creating employment for nationals, particularly for the youth, can have an enormous
impact in the combat against the crime. When people are gainfully engaged, they do
The kidnapping in Southern Kaduna has a strong relationship with the communal
conflict of the people in Southern Kaduna, hence, when the crisis is curbed and
57
control to dearest level, Kidnapping will simultaneously curtail.
The service providers have to re-check their strategy effectively to assure every line is
registered before it commenced working. Because that will facilitate them to track in
and out-going call by every client in the Network, as well as track their location
through utilizing GPS network, in order to traced and interfere every call from the
kidnappers and track their location which is detectable by the network provider. After
The kidnappee's family should abstain from compensating ransom in sorrow and
hesitations a little longer or cease the ransom payment to the kidnappers because it
always serves as a motivational factor for the perpetrators to maintain exploring in the
horrible act.
The unification and adoption of a modified system of community policing idea would
security outfits formed to police the neighborhood should be recurring and revealing
synthetic ties with the security mechanisms in order to attain their required operations.
After all, the kidnappers are human beings, and the security forces are not miraculous;
they need data to facilitate them to work appropriately and diligently. (i)Any
58
government bureaucrat, civil office holder, or politician set up-relations with
kidnappers. Such betrayer supposed to be excluding from competing and striving for
any governmental responsibility, and it will be rest ensured discourage others not to
part-take and participating in the illegal act. (ii) Any complete/uncompleted building
Based on the African Union Summit Concerning Silencing Gun (2020), the surge and
escalation in light and small arms trade have implicates on the protection of the weak
society, encompassing kids, women, and the ages as well as the infrastructure.
Moreover, the illicit cycle of arms develops a culture of turmoil and volatile society
through criminal impact and unlawful smuggling. Small and light arms ownership
This weapons coercive potent manipulated by the perpetrators to deal with their
kidnapees to coerce with their demand without opposition and hesitation. The
weapons. Also, the local black-smith have to be regulated and controlled on their
creation because they frequently generate and develop weapons that end up in the
immoral hands or with the perpetrators such as kidnappers and other delinquents.
With respect to the factors prompting kidnapping in the region, the study indicated
that poverty is recognized as one of the major catalysts of kidnapping for ransom in
59
Southern Kaduna. This finding corroborate with that of Thom-Otuya (2010) who
argued that the abject poverty in which most Nigerians are floundering is responsible
for extensive of kidnapping in the nation. The indication of the poverty is reasonably
obvious in terms of the amount of adult beggars, high number of out of school
children, street hawkers, bench warmers and under shades among others.
The study revealed that the chronic unemployment is similarly another factor why
youth indulge into kidnapping that these youths end up deeming kidnapping as a rapid
(2010); Ogbuehi (2018); Ibrahim and Mukhtar (2017); Ayuba (2020) that lack of
employment is of the drivers for kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. This is further
corroborates the earlier findings made by Inyang and Ubong (2013) that the
opportunities for crowding youth which dishearten them and ultimately directs them
The study found that the payment of ransom to the kidnappers to be one of the
M.R, (2020) Stoppage of paying money to kidnappers is the only way to deter the
incidence.
This study also found that the prevailing communal disagreement between the
herdsmen and the farmers in Southern Kaduna to be the main catalysts of kidnapping.
This finding corroborates with earlier study of Ibrahim and Mukhtar (2017), that the
60
failure of security apparatus of Nigerian government over times, with frequent
conflicts occurrences has largely boldened the strength of kidnapper. They further
affirmed that the youth find themselves becoming kidnappers because they were
standards and values, nature of Nigerian politics are some of the factors motivating
The kidnapping for ransom phenomenon was found to be high to a great extent
and one of prevalent and pervasive crimes in Kaduna and its Southern Kaduna, this
was in line with the assertion of the Nigerian Acting Inspector General of Police who
disclosed that 79.8% of the national kidnapping was recorded in the three northern
geopolitical zones, with Northwest being the hot-spot where 365 people were
frequent occurrences of the incident will intimidate not only foreign investors but also
local as travellers advisory is being issued by countries to their citizens deterring them
to travel some states in Nigeria including Kaduna state. This will have an adverse
The study found that kidnapping has an obvious negative consequence especially
61
relatively increased level of mistrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping
creates outstanding degree of suspicion and uncertainty among the people. According
Soyombo (2009) "a faithful interaction could jeopardize confidence and since
relatives, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. The study further revealed that
kidnapping creates high level of mistrust among people because it involves physical
The study found that there mechanisms to curb the menace of kidnapping such as
62
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary
development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large, it was saliently found out that
communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers of Southern Kaduna as the
major catalyst of kidnapping for ransom in the area and other factors include poverty,
Kaduna state and Nigeria this present time hardly couple of days without people being
on the enthusiastic foreign investors in the state, that kidnapping has created
unfavorable atmosphere for businesses in the area. It also created mistrust and fear
among and people of Southern Kaduna are no longer safe in their farmlands, homes,
There are mechanisms for tackling the menace of kidnapping which are Stoppage of
paying money to kidnappers, fighting poverty, creating jobs for youths, SIM
registration, tackling the communal conflict in the Southern Kaduna among others.
5.2 Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study the following recommendations were made.
To the Government
The state should make kidnapping a high risk crime a and low reward adventure and
63
criminal justice system must strengthen to effectively arrest, prosecute and give stiff
jail sentences; this will serve as deterrent to those thinking of indulging into the
kidnapping activities.
Federal ministry of agriculture and rural development should double its efforts in
Equally, the federal government through the ministry of agriculture should further
Once these agricultural strategies are developed and effectively executed, both
the state and local governments should as a matter of necessity provide minimum
basic amenities such as good road network, electricity, pipe borne water, effective
communities. These measures will go a long way in preventing massive exodus of the
communities and other stakeholders to host regular community based programmes for
value reorientation among the people. The relevant security agencies especially the
kidnapping squad should be properly equipped and funded to stamp out the
To Non-governmental Organization
64
creation programmes and seminars to educate the people of southern Kaduna on the
The study also recommends that for kidnapping to reduce, there is to address the
programmes and making sure that policies are implemented corruption free because
even the popular trend in Nigeria like Anchored Borrower, N-Power etc end up
enhanced the strong and weakened the weak by the corrupt officials.
To the people
The study recommends that the fatality's relatives and government should stop
paying ransom to the kidnappers in the country because the money paid as a
motivation to the kidnappers for next actions and also potential kidnappers who see it
kidnapping there is need to first handle the conflict between the cattle breeders in
Southern Kaduna by stopping taking law in their and they should report any suspicion
movement to securities for necessary activities and also controlling the proliferation
of arms within the county and making it death penalty to anyone caught with illegal
weapons.
5.3 Conclusion
65
Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large. Even though the happening of kidnapping is
not recent in Nigeria, the contemporary extents it takes in current times and its
preponderance have become serious issues of national problem. The study ascertained
the existence of numerous types of kidnapping with kidnap for ransom being the most
prevalent and most trending in Nigeria. This is not independent to the pervasive
poverty and unemployment, the quest for illegal accumulation of money, especially
practices of public servants and political elites, conflicts in the area under study have
The study concluded that provisions of basic amenities such as decent road networks,
crises of other crucial public services such as electricity, quality potable water supply,
kidnapping. The study also concludes that if the aforementioned measures are
66
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76