FELIX OLADEJI argues that the increased spate of kidnapping is a consequence of poor leadership

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Nigeria, like most countries of the world has witnessed increasing rate of kidnapping and the attendant unprecedented levels of insecurity that goes with it. Kidnapping and insecurity are therefore mutually reinforcing by virtue of the fact that the latter gives rise to the former and vice versa. The menace of kidnapping has grown over the years and seems to have become an industry involving every level of society and propelled by several reasons. Studies on the trend of kidnapping are relatively new phenomenon, with much of the literatures coming from most Asian, American and European continents. In most writings, no single literature has an African origin in terms of kidnapping, yet there are several media fillers of cases of kidnapping in most African nations including Nigeria. The prevalence of kidnapping in Nigeria has taken many dimensions.

The United Nations Office of Drug and Crime, (UNODC) (2003), has classified kidnapping into various facets. They include kidnapping for extortion. This category finds expression in extortion, ransom and other commercial advantages driving the actors into the act of kidnapping. Kidnapping again is carried out for carnal sexual exploitation. This type is linked to domestic or familial disputes (spouse or child abduction) or in most cases, potential house- wives-to-be are kidnapped and taken away to other places as forced marriage, etc. Similarly, there is what is also known as kidnapping for revenge and kidnapping for ideological and political differences.

Kidnapping at whatever level of analysis is criminal and hence, could be considered as very serious crime against humanity. However, this state of affairs have been relatively obscured in contemporary scholarship compared to other social vices namely, armed robbery, oil bunkering and other ethnic skirmishes. The relative obscurity of the crime of kidnapping is traced to tripartite factors. First is the near absence of the art of kidnapping. Second is the lack of access to potential kidnappers and thirdly, is the dearth of available data for verification. Taking this argument further is to say that in the first instance, social scientists appears to see the art of kidnapping as largely insignificant act of criminality which is why very little attention with regard to investigations have been given to it. Moreover, gaining access to those behind the heinous act is a herculean task (except for the development of modern technology by agents of state recently aimed at helping to control the menace). Lastly, the third factor relates to the unavailability of reliable data for further validation and generalizations.

Conversely, the ecology of kidnapping foregrounds its origin, emanating from the 17th century England where children were kidnapped and sold to agricultural merchants as slave workers. Prior to this time, and precisely in the ancient Rome, the Emperor Constantine (AD 315) became so alarmed by the level of kidnapping that he ordered a death penalty as deterrent measures for the crime. In the Middle-Ages in Europe, it has been reported that Robber-barons were kidnapping merchants and holding them captive for a fairly long time for ransom. For example, King Richard I of England was held hostage for years by the Arch- duke of Austria in the 21st century. Similarly, around 1800, in the Sulu archipelago, now part of the Philippines, there was also a standard scale of ransom fees ranging from 2000 pesos for a European friar to 30-50 pesos for a male Filipino. Again, an upsurge in kidnapping in the USA by what has been known as organized criminal gangs resulted, in 1931, to the introduction of federal legislation on kidnapping in both Senate and House of Representatives. All of these medieval strands of kidnapping could be said to have occurred without political vendetta. However, it can at the same time be said that most factors propelling kidnapping in most African countries (Nigeria inclusive) are politically motivated.

Kidnapping in Nigeria, especially those for ransom started in the Niger-Delta Region in 2005. However, recent occurrences prove to the contrary. The wave of kidnapping in Nigeria now traverses the length and breadth of the country, and hence, has affected most regions of the North-East geo-political zones of Borno, and most parts of Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi States, respectively. However, it will not be out of place to say that kidnapping, especially within the South-South axis of Nigeria is of particular interest to Journalists, scholars and researchers.

Poor Leadership being provided by the country’s politicians that have resulted in mass poverty and unemployment is a common denominator. The federal government has abandoned the area that produces about 90% of her foreign exchange revenues; and about the state share of 13% oil revenue derivation. But the governments of Niger Delta have not utilized these funds to develop her area appropriately and judiciously. The leaders to some extent have not done well; they have been involved in one financial scandal or the other. The failure in political leadership in Nigeria is largely responsible for the state of lawlessness in Nigeria today. Nigeria’s political elites (especially in the past) have been unresponsive to the state of insecurity in Nigeria as they were preoccupied with accumulation of private wealth. Consequently, they placed little value on matters concerning national interests and the dignity of lives of the ordinary Nigerian. Increasing rate of kidnapping and other criminal activities is a direct consequence of failure of leadership. The character of Nigeria’s political leadership, at all levels, contradicts the philosophy of governance which essentially is the promotion of human dignity and the protection of core values of society.

Moreover, the Nigerian police force personnel lack resources to cope with criminal activities. Furthermore, corruption within the Police and other law enforcement agencies sometimes thwarts serious effort in crime prevention. Consequently, kidnappers know their chances of them being caught is slim. On its part, Nigeria’s security agencies have been largely incompetent and complicit in this regard. The federal government, which has the exclusive power over security matters has to put in place a mechanism for ending the kidnapping particularly in some parts of the country.

Hence, there should be the re-organization of the security agencies to take them through a new re- orientation via high-tech training and retraining. This also suggests that every Nigerian should become committed security personnel within and around his domain, detect strange persons in society and report suspicious persons to the police for professional expert actions.

A careful investigation should be carried out by government to determine the authenticity or otherwise of public outcry to the effect that weapons used by kidnappers and other terrorist groups in Nigeria far outweighs those used by the military and other para-military agencies. If the outcome of the investigations to this effect is true, then, government would have to do a re- think of the possibilities of making adequate budgetary allocations and monitoring of the same to the security/defense sector. Such fiscal allocations may then be used to enhance shipment of weaponry including American drones, nuclear war-heads and cruise missiles from Russia, North Korea and Israel. This simple propaganda warfare will practically and effectively demonstrate that Nigeria is ready for the worse in terms of counter attacks or any kind of offensive both within and outside. This measure will go a long way in tackling the incessant cases of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria.

Lastly, the kind of youth empowerment currently being practiced is grossly inadequate. Government at all levels should imbibe the fear of God and be sincere in their dealings with Nigerian youths in relations to empowerment. The aspects of poverty alleviation namely Sure-P, YouWin and others have been lopsided and hence, they have not effectively impacted on millions of unemployed graduates roaming the streets. No doubt, an average Nigerian youth who is idle can become available tool for politicians and mischief makers. This form of redundancy could institutionalize the notion of terror in the minds of the youths who out of desperation are prone to all manner of crime in society.

Oladeji writes from Lagos 

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