IMPLICATIONS OF KIDNAPPING ON NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA
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IMPLICATIONS OF KIDNAPPING ON NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA
CHAPITRE ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is a state that is constantly threatened by ethno-religious militias or political rebels. On a broader scale, the threat has social, economic, political, and environmental implications.
Each of these characteristics has a significant impact on the country’s stability and well-being, both individually and collectively. Threats to national security include separatist demands, militancy,
terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and a variety of other crimes that have badly impacted the society’s security condition. (New York: Praeger, 1990.)
Kidnapping has grown prevalent in Nigerian society, particularly in the Niger Delta region. It is quickly becoming a profitable alternative to armed robbery and other similar crimes. The gravity of kidnapping is so great that it has almost affected everyone in our society and has severely compromised the country’s security.
The present component of abduction became visible in the Niger Delta region when extremists seized some oil workers in February 2006, apparently to draw global attention to the poor situation and need in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta region; the victims were largely foreigners.
Since then, the social problem of kidnapping has grown exponentially in most sections of the country, particularly in the south-eastern and south-southern regions. Foreigners are no longer the only targets; almost every Nigerian is now a target.
In retrospect, it is now established that the former Governor of Anambra State was kidnapped on July 10, 2003 by members of his political party who were opposed to him (Emewu & Anyanwu, 2009).
As a result, while kidnapping is not a new phenomenon, the present lucrative ransom-demanding technique has become a severe societal concern for the Nigerian government and people.
For example, an online tourism site ranked Nigeria sixth on the global kidnap index in 2008. Nigeria is ranked alongside countries with major kidnapping problems such as the Philippines, Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil, and Mexico (Ujumadu, 2008; Ekpe, 2009).
Due to a lack of precise statistical data, such a report could serve as an assumption. According to Ekpe (2009), Nigeria recorded 512 occurrences of kidnapping and 30 deceased people in kidnappers’ dens that year,
compared to 353 cases in 2008. Kidnappings in southern Nigeria, notably in the Niger Delta region, have ravaged the country, exposing the country’s security flaws.
The safety of Nigerians and their property cannot be guaranteed. Kidnapping is a criminal act in Nigeria that is penalised by law. Anyone caught in the act is anticipated to face a ten-year prison sentence. Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country are terrified of being the next kidnap victim
, because kidnappers spare no one as long as their aims are realised. In recent years, wealthy and high-income earners have been kidnapped by kidnappers who only release their captives when a ransom is paid.
Old adults, as well as youngsters aged two to five years, have been kidnapped. The kidnapping event has harmed Nigeria’s international reputation. It has also hampered Nigeria’s efforts to create a successful tourism business, as travellers are routinely warned by their home countries to be cautious when visiting Nigeria.
Many prospective investors have stayed away out of fear of being kidnapped (Ekpe, 2009). Apart from the visible evidence presented above, many other issues related to the subject of kidnapping will be revealed during the course of this inquiry.
This research will also look into the origins and spread of abduction in Nigeria. This is vital because, despite efforts to reduce it, kidnapping persists and has recently increased.
STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM
Terrorism, kidnapping, and hostage-taking in the Niger delta have become an outgrowth of frustration and aggression as a result of unfriendly government policies, a lack of sincerity on the part of the government, exploitative tendencies, and insensitivity on the part of multinational oil companies operating in the region.
The Niger Deltans expected that the discovery of oil in their region would result in access to basic amenities such as potable water, consistent electrical supply, effective healthcare facilities, decent roads, good schools, and job possibilities, yet the opposite has occurred.
In their youth, they believed that the Nigerian government and global oil firms were interested in bringing development to their rural villages in order to combat the negative impacts of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. After 50 years of operation, all of these fantasies appear to be nightmares.
Their demands are straightforward: “Give us a fair share of the revenue generated by our resources, and care for our environment.” However, both the government and global operating firms turned a deaf ear, and all they did was pay lip service.
These factors contributed to the immediate past and present problem in the Niger Delta Region, fostering the creation of armed organisations and insurgents that terrorised the region for decades.
Through criminal behaviour such as piracy, abduction, hostage-taking, and oil theft or bunkering, some armed groups turned the legitimate battle for socioeconomic justice for their people to basic selfish demands.
These terrorist acts had serious consequences for the country’s economy, stability, and peace. As a result of the insurgents’ operations, the Federal Government estimated that Nigeria lost approximately N308.7 billion during the Niger Delta crisis, with a stunning N3 billion lost in 2008 alone. This equates to a daily loss of one million barrels of oil production.
During this time, the country’s exports were impeded by wars in which pipelines were vandalised and oil workers were either kidnapped or maimed. Given the enormity of the criminality against human beings in the area, the human impact of the crisis was incalculable.
According to available records, no fewer than 1000 lives were lost in the region’s devastation, in addition to a rash of kidnappings in which local and expatriate workers were held prisoner, including elderly and young members of the families of significant figures in the country.
Against this context, this study tries to assess the issue and, if possible, propose remedies to prevent the problem from recurring.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The study’s main goal is to investigate the effects of kidnapping on Nigerian national security. Other specific study objectives include:
Identifies and explores the key causes of kidnapping in the Niger Delta region.
Discuss the ramifications of kidnapping for Nigeria’s security.
Investigate the primary players involved in these illicit actions, as well as their style of operation.
Examine the government’s and security services’ efforts to limit the operations of kidnappers.
To investigate the impact of kidnapping on national security.
Recommend viable solutions to the government and security authorities for dealing with the problem.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What are the primary causes of kidnapping in the Niger Delta region?
What are the implications of abduction for Nigerian security?
Who are the main players in these illicit activities, and what is their manner of operation?
What steps are being made by the government and security services to limit the operations of kidnappers?
What impact does abduction have on national security?
What options do the government and security services have for dealing with the problem?
RESEARCH THEORY
H0: abduction has no impact on national security.
H1: abduction has a negative impact on national security.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work is a valuable and timely contribution to knowledge, information, and developments in the fight against the Niger Delta Militants group in Nigeria, notably in the country’s south-south region.
It focuses on history, causes, implications, and possible solutions. It also investigates the roles of security agencies, policymakers, stakeholders, and enabling laws in combating violent activities, particularly the recent wave of homicides, kidnappings, hostage abduction, bunkering, and bombings of oil infrastructure, among other things.
It proposes a number of initiatives that various authorities, stakeholders (religious, community, and political), and security agencies might do to alleviate the wanton destruction of life and property caused by grievances and repression by the government and oil firms throughout the years.
The study would also aid students, researchers, and academics who are interested in conducting additional research on the subject.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The research is limited to the effects of kidnapping on national security in Nigeria from 1999 to 2009, with the Niger delta region serving as a case study.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint- A lack of funds tends to restrict the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection procedure (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this investigation alongside other academic activities. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
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