Effects Of Kidnapping On Socio-Economic Development Of Nigeria ( A Study Of Southern Kaduna) -By Lukuman Tajuddeen

 

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.

 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

 

Kidnapping as a kind of businesslike offense is not a modern phenomenon. It is, historically, an old phenomenon traceable from ancient nations as it was discovered in 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 occurrences over time and space. According to the NYA24‟s (2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R. (2020), Asian

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 chances to develop attractive and conducive environment for both domestic investment and foreign direct investments (FDI).The world incidence of kidnapping 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 is extensively obvious in countries grappling with humanitarian crisis, particularly in most developing states in Africa. 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 militiamen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report further showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were sexually victimized by the armed militias.

In Nigeria, the issues of kidnapping have become recurrent incident making

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 communities protesting for what they described as marginalization and environmental injustice caused on them as a result of the oil exploration activities by the international companies in the area. Therefore, they deployed hostage taking of distinguished public officials and expatriates working in the international companies 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. However, the recent increased in abductions in northern part of Nigeria tends to change the narrative as it has assumed a frightening dimension thus attracting 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 minors began to assume a great magnitude and endangering socioeconomic development potentialities in the country. Consequently, by 2014 vast scale of kidnappings emerged, especially the kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in public attention. This occurrence indicated the advent of popular kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but not limited to the abductions of the former Controller- General of the Nigeria 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 happenings of kidnappings in the northern part of Nigeria as various cases leave 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 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 German Archaeologists in 2017; the kidnapping of Nigeria’s former minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the casualties of kidnapping for 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 measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.

 

STATEMENT OF the RESEARCH PROBLEM

 

The issue of kidnapping has notoriously changes Nigeria’s character as a country

internationally. It has similarly implicated Nigeria’s endeavor to establish a viable

tourism industry as foreigners are usually advised by their countries to be careful of coming to Nigeria currently, Kidnapping is assuming an alarming extent given way to unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security

terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence and reoccurrences of kidnapping have become a basis of tension, anxiety and worrisome with hundreds of people from various socioeconomic level being 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 situation resulted in displacement of persons, lack of peace and harmony as well as the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area. This security challenges in the southern Kaduna have hindered the

socio -economic development. It is from above predicament this study intends to

examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of southern 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 and its consequences on the socio  -economic development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria in general.

 

RESEARCH QUESTION

This  research shall examine the following objectives.

1. Why people indulge in kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
2. What is the extent of Kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
3. What are the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development of

southern Kaduna?

4. What are solutions to the problem of Kidnapping?

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 

1. To identify the factors responsible for kidnapping in southern Kaduna.
2. To determine the extent of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
3. To examine the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development in

Southern Kaduna.

4. To proffer solutions to the problem of Kidnapping.

 

RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

 

1. Kidnapping has negative effects on the socioeconomic development of

Southern Kaduna.

1. Kidnapping does not have negative effects on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.

 

SCOPE and LIMITATIONS OF  THE STUDY

 

This research is limited to effects of Kidnapping on Socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.

 

a . 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 data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 

1. 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 sourcing reliable data.

 

SIGNIFICANCES OF THE STUDY

 

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 Enlighten and educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of kidnapping on progress and development. It will similarly serves as a contribution to the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions and measures to be taken to tackle the problem and menace of kidnapping on socioeconomic development in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS of KEY CONCEPTS

 

1. Effect

Effect is defined as a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result influence.

1. Kidnapping

Fage and Alabi(2017,p.289)who conceived kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, 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 of seizing, confining , abducting, or carrying away a person by force or fraud often with a demand for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.

iii. Socioeconomic development

Socio- economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society. Socio – economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, safety, and levels of employment.

 

1. Development

 

According to Rodney (1972), “Development is a many-sided process implying for the individual, skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline, responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools, skills and the mobilization of required resources for development purpose”. Development simply denotes a progressive transformation from a undesirable condition to a desirable level.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals, internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content analysis for the data collected.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Literature Review

 

Conceptualization of Kidnapping

 

The concept of kidnapping is complicated to define with accuracy; this is because of the availability of different terms alike such as hostage -taking, abduction, and hijacking. In several nations, therefore these concepts are used interchangeably in which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example, in Malaysia according to the study conducted by Akpan (2010), Kidnapping of an 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 imprisoned possibly in a known area such as plane, ship, or in a building lodgings. For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without individuals is largely seen as hijacking, while in most jurisprudence or juristic interpretation, it will be termed ad theft and leaving hijacking to an unlawful seizure of both loaded truck and persons together. 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 where it is seen as the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person so as to 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,

abduction of a child to have a bargaining power especially in marital dispute.

Sometimes, kidnapping is perpetrated in order to advance a course of another crime such as human trafficking and/or slavery. Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables ranging from economic, political, religious and self-determination through coercive or fraudulent abduction of a person or group of persons. In the study of Turner’s (1998), his description of kidnapping lends support to the above conceptions where he describes it as seizing and transporting persons to a destination of unlawful 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 law website which defines kidnapping as an offence which connotes a forceful or fraudulent taking away of a person by another person without his/her consent or lawful excuse. In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping refers to a situation whereby a person or group of persons are forcibly or fraudulently 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

achieving some social, economic or political goals. This is exemplified by various 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 concept of kidnapping. Certain concepts are used alternatively to refer to acts of

kidnapping but each connotes a specific type of the act.The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1996) define kidnapping as the seizing 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 or group of persons perceived to be the reasons behind the injustice suffered by another group. However within the context of this search kidnapping is conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention of a person or persons illegally in an unknown area with aim of getting advantage or money (ransom). In a simpler terms kidnapping is an illegal act or process of 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 furtherance of another crime (New World Encyclopedia, 2018). In a broader sense, kidnapping could mean any situation of forceful disposition or 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 as follows; Kidnapping for extortion of either ransom or to influence decision making

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 criminal tendencies or political or economic reasons. Okonkwa (1980) opined that kidnapping is a broad inclusive in assault. He construed the nature of kidnapping in 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 where he is imprisoned”. From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed that there is dehumanizing tendency involved in kidnapping as it often lead to the

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 similarly reported that, kidnapping is perceived as illegitimate seizure and 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

male in to military or naval service by force or fraud. Roberton(1968) as cited in Walsh et al (1983), who perceived kidnapping as a crime of seizing, confirming abduction or carrying away of individuals by force or crime subject him or her to involuntarily servitude in an attempt to requests a ransom or furtherance of another 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

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 and held for whether ransom illegally or consensually.

 

THE OF KIDNAPPING

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 examined by many researchers. Some of these researchers encompass Turner (1998), Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),

Okoli and Agada (2014) among others.

Zannoni (2003) extensively categorised kidnapping into three (3): a) Criminal

kidnapping: This according to Zannoni (2003) is a kidnapping prompted by the quest to collect ransom from the casualty’s family, business or friends;

1. b) Political

kidnapping: this kind of kidnapping is informed by the intention to improve a political course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities plunge under this type; and

1. c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional kidnapping (Zannoni, 2003). It is a type of kidnapping where the purpose is to cause psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,

child kidnapping by separated parents among others. 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 families or business colleagues. Hence, in evolving states like Nigeria, immigrants 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

$300,000 requested for her release.

Another kind of kidnapping observed by the OSAC (2019) is tiger kidnapping or

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 guerrilla warfare. The tiger kidnapping is widespread in Asian countries.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 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 kidnappers employ several techniques or forms to commit their horrible intentions. 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

in order to deceive their unsuspecting victim. For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed express kidnappings by kidnappers standing as police officers around the country’s 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 casualties of express kidnapping are finally discharged unharmed mostly if the victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the creation of ride -share applications in various nations such as Nigeria. For example, 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

system too is being penetrated to perpetrate express kidnapping by the criminals as evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM by a criminal who posed as a rideshare driver.The fourth category of kidnapping observed by OSAC (2019) is political and 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 criminal partnerships. A multitude of happenings of this kind of kidnapping abound in

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 ideological kidnapping tends to be more pervasive in nations with extremist militant 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’ eeda which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.

OSAC (2019) observed virtual kidnapping as the fifth category of kidnapping 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 imply a condition where a bride or bridegroom is seized to an unspecified area with the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)

similarly observed this kind of abduction as a widespread habit in traditional nomadic 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

parents, even when she adores the husband. Express kidnapping is a type of kidnapping which is informed by the desire to 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 type of kidnapping as being motivated by some financial interests. Thus, express 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 victim’s 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 perpetrated by amateur kidnappers. Instances of this type of kidnapping abound in the

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 of naira, is an express kidnapping (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). 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 of using him/her to commit another crime. A situation where a bank manager is kidnapped and compelled to issue instruction to his subordinates to make an illegal transaction exemplifies tiger kidnapping. Other researchers such as Oladeinde (2017) categorized kidnapping into three: target, spontaneous and aggravated. However, in spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an undue advantage over innocent victims.

 

MOTIVES OF KIDNAPPING

 

Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following

motives:

Economic motive for kidnapping: On traditional basis, human existence is operated by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort planned to use the most profitable means to accomplish a desired motive. As a 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 get easily involved in the initial place .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 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, 2017 & Akpan 2010).

Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study (2010), where there is politically motivated kidnapping, but where necessarily ransom is demanded. It is hence examined by Nnam (2014) that, most contemporary kidnapping of prime or high-profile people, are initiated by either regime officials, unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for

kidnapping as a political vendetta for achieving political dents. In this circumstance 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 employed to resolve the political aggrieved party . Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto prevailing crimes in the country such as armed -robbery and pick- pocketing. Unemployed boys affected in indiscriminate kidnapping of any potential person, whom something could be obtained in return. Every ordinary individual including 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 following victim remained mysterious.

 

KIDNAPPING IN  NIGERIA

 

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 region.) He further observed that early kidnapping incidents in Niger Delta particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). Akpan’s findings collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta originally indulge in kidnapping to attract attention of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger encroaching people in the region.Nevertheless, kidnapping is not new a current phenomenon in Nigeria, 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 perpetrators then were commonly inferred to as ‘children snatchers or thieves’ and 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 kidnappers (child snatchers) employed charms to overwhelm the casualties or

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 sum of wealth making. The first contemporized kidnapping in Nigeria was executed by the government 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 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

manifestation of kidnapping and hostage seizing started in Niger-Delta region as a

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 notorious Islamic terrorist group Jama’ay Ahl as Sunnah lid-Da’awa wa’lJihad  popularly recognized as ‘Boko Haram ‘ (Oyewole, 2016). The problem at present mandates national emergency action, because it’s no longer a provincial problem anymore. In today’s Nigeria, Kidnapping has become a 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 STATE

 

Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky 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 abducted for ransom on daily basis.Research conducted by Mohammad (2018), disclosed that bandits abducted at least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms. According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on Tuesday January 17, 2018, at approximately 6:16pm, in Kaduna state by armed bandits. Thus, a member of lower chamber of national assembly, Garba Umar Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring of kidnapping incidence was when heavily armed kidnappers impeded the Kaduna-Abuja highway for many hours and kidnapped over 50 individuals. No 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 of lawlessness such as rubbery, bandits, cultism, burglary, ritual killings communal conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial

zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji

Muhammad Adamu kidnapping cases in Kaduna is mostly attributed with the

communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between cattle breeders and farmers.

 

PRONE AREAS OF KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA STATE 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 the passing vehicles, not realizing that they are kidnappers”.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

estates employed as hideout was located at Marafa, a new settlement along Kaduna-Abuja road, as broadcasted by Salisu Rogo of NTA. Further Vanguard 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 Jere Kateri along Kaduna Abuja.

 

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 to the federal government to announce a state of emergency on highway due to endless kidnapping of travelers of innocent citizens.

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 kidnappers. On 21st November, 2017 confirmed by (FRSC,2917), one Ardo Nijiga

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 information to security agencies in January, 2018.

 

 

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).

 

KADUNA-BIRNIN GWARI HIGHWAY

 

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. Nonetheless, from the aforementioned literatures, it is obvious that the researchers concentrated mostly on the origin, causes and implications of kidnapping on labour market in Nigeria. While other researchers studied kidnapping specifically in southern part of Nigeria as well as it effect on economic development. The implications above 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 socioeconomic development in Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

EMPERICAL 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 sample of 10 victims of kidnapping and 5 security personnel was drawn through purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty, moral decadence, widespread of unemployment, as well as payment of ransom to the 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 kidnappers, poverty alleviation,, job creation are recommended to address to problem

of kidnapping in Kaduna state

Chukuigwe, N.; Albert, C.O (2015) investigated the socio-economic

consequences of kidnapping on the development of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He employed a multistage sampling technique 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 forsupremacy (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 socio-economic indices such as: Psychological/emotional trauma (x̅ =2.61), indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),financial loss through payment of ransom / protection and forceful closure of businesses (x̅=2.35), amongst others. Inadequate/ill equipped anti-kidnapping squad (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 government, communities and other stakeholders for value reorientation. Davidson (2010) also studied the implications of kidnapping on labor market in 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

federal government‟s contemporary achievements in wooing investors into 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 Nigerian economy might be waiting for to move into complete recession. He 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 are not spared.” The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen states in Nigeria he examines causes of kidnapping and its implications on the 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

revealed that recent kidnapping in Nigeria is accelerated by resource management conflicts focused both at oil expatriate employees and at prominent citizens, 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 study concludes that kidnapping is coming to be a severe offense in Nigeria with serious negative implications for foreign investment, national foreign exchange revenue, and wealth generation.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 effects of Kidnapping on socio-economic development of Southern Kaduna has

necessitated the coming in of this research to fill in vivid gap.

 

 

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

This study adopted Structural-functionalist theory as a tool for analysis.Structural-Functionalism, in sociology and other social sciences, is a school of 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 incessant existence of the others and of society as an entirety. In structural functionalism, social change is regarded as an adaptive reaction to some uncertainty

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 degree to which given activities enhance or interface with the maintenance of a 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), who overwhelmed American social theory in the 1950s and 1960s. The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex components that are interrelated and interdependent in which each component performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organismfails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies 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 envisioned society as an organism made up of components that function harmoniously 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

pass from generation to generation.

 

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, harmony, peace, progress, and order. The theory further stressed that if one part or institution isdysfunctional (may be

the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will leads to the emergence of social problems and anti-society activities (such as kidnapping, violence, conflict etc) in the society.

 

 

CENTRAL IDEA OF  FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

The primary concern of structural functionalism is a consequence of the Durkheim’s 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

institutions) working concurrently in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward 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

status.

 

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF  STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which

different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to the

maintenance of whole system.

2. Functionalism generally assumes that institutions perform beneficial functions

(they do good things) for the individuals and society.

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 parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function

neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will

not be passed on from one generation to the subsequent (Schaefer, 2002)

 

APPLICABILITY OF  THE  THEORY

When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria and its implication on the socioeconomic development; structural functionalism 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 dysfunction within the system results in great degree of poverty, unemployment, denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate

of which kidnapping is at the lead.

The socioeconomic condition in Southern Kaduna is ignored and there is no significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such as security, hospitals, employment, good roads and communication networks which

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 productive and functional to its perpetrators. The lucrative character of kidnapping

makes it very desirable. Kidnapping as perceived in some parts of Nigeria and especially in Southern Kaduna is recognized as a dysfunctional or the fault of the governments of all levels

to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security of the people in the southern Kaduna. According to the advocates of theory, if an 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 woefully failing because according to previous studies kidnapping is accompanied by a communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

 

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 problems within society emanates from the failure of an organization to function as

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 it was established for.

 

CRITICISM

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”).

 

Another criticism directed at functionalism is that it encompasses no sense of agency, that individuals are seen as tools, working as their role expects. The most complicated forms of functionalism are founded on “a highly developed concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the individual and their actions.

 

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 which social institutions fulfill those necessities.

 

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. Anthony Giddens argues that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences. 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

important for explaining the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND

KIDNAPPING AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN

KADUNA STATE

 

BiOGRAPHT AND LOCATION OF  THE STUDY AREA

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

it in the state creation exercise of 1987. Its capital is Kaduna. Kaduna state is found at the centre of Northern Nigeria. It has a political 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

Nassarawa state to the south. Kaduna State occupies 46,053 square kilometres(National population commission of Nigeria III, 2006).

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. Kaduna State . 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

 

ECONOMY OF KADUNA STATE

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 relative benefit in as it is the dominating producer in the nation. Additional important 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, kyanite, gold, graphite and sillimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural substance utilized in the industry of pencils, crucibles, electrodes, generator brushes and other sundry components. Kaduna state is an urban as well as a cultured/cosmopolitan industrialized state with over 80 commercial and manufacturing industries. Goods varying from carpets, textiles, reinforced tangible materials, bicycles 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, New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United

Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refrigerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company Limited, Electricity Metres Company Nigeria Limited and Rigid Pack Containers Limited, Zaria among others(“Encyclopedia 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

contemporary parks and gardens (KRPC, 2019).

 

SOUTHERN KADUNA

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 districts of the state. Southern Kaduna is multi- ethnic and pre dominantly occupied by largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem, Kagoma,Kaningkon, Kagoro, Fanstwan, Numana, Mada, Moroa, Attakar, Ayu, Kataf,

Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on. The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern Kaduna senatorial zones and these are predominantly occupied by Hausa-Fulani 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 governments of Southern Kaduna put together have a population of 1,792,169, i.e., 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 people southern Kaduna is predominantly agriculture and small businesses scales.

 

 

KIDNAPPING AND  SOCIO -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND NIGERIA AT LARGE

 

A study conducted by Badamasi S. Et al, (2018) their study revealed that

kidnapping has serious effects on development of Nigeria that kidnapping in Kaduna 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 occurrences of the incidence, traveler‟s advisory is being issued by nations to their citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state. This will therefore, have an adverse effect on economic possible development of 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

when it comes to issue of security.

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

conditions of the Nigerian economy, unemployment and weak citizen-security ratio 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 billion naira on security alone (Sahara reporters, 2017).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

external fittings, presenting their economic incapacity in effort to avoid becoming casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders 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

people, with some rarely respond to friendly greetings to uncommon individuals.

 

The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same

developing nations such as Malaysia is not possible due to low technology

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

 

ISSUE OF f KIDNAPPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN KADUNA.

 

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 motivatingcircumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factorsinspiring kidnapping as a destructive crime in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating factors relatively endless. Commonly, investigators are sharp to question socioeconomic, political and religious factors as drivers of kidnapping in Nigeria (Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).

 

One remarkable correspondence in all the researches on the drivers of kidnapping isthe agreement that the phenomenon opposes mono-causal justifications as it ispropelled by so several influences. Below are some of the causes of kidnapping;

 

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 research conducted by Adegoke (2015) found unemployment by a ledge of 88% as the 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 and hampered unemployed teenagers frequently use to immoral actions as a means of survival (Inyang, 2009).

 

In same vein, Ejimabo (2013) characterized the happening of pervasive

unemployment among the youths as an obstacle to the management and deterence of 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 financial means to compensate them. Substantiating this perspective, Thom-Otuya (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 implications for national advancement. Looking at the consequences of unemployment on crime causation from psychological standpoint, Inyang (2009) emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their delinquency to secure the employment to the community. Joblessness as the 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,both unemployed for years (Ugwuoke, 2011).

 

2. Poverty

Researchers associate the mushrooming of kidnapping in Nigeria to endemic poverty in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximumcrude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as thebiggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in theglobe (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 aForeign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and Economic Information Centre, CEIC, 2019).However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as thecenter 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 sixNigerians 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 many researchers found positive correlation between poverty and kidnapping in Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor

associated with bad governance characterized by corrupt practices verge to develop weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived sense of economic denial. Thom-Otuya (2010) alleged that majority of Nigerians suffer from scarcity of essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.Therefore, according to him, poverty is an ingredient encouraging lawlessness not

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 defined by pervasive poverty and social mistreatment.

 

3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern

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. This is exceptionally accurate because kidnapping in southern Kaduna differed as it has a nexus with communal crisis.

 

4. Greediness and Moral Decadence

Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome havebeen recognized as circumstances stimulating kidnapping (Ogbuehi, 2018; Inyang andUbong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get richsyndrome, 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 criminality so as to make wealth overnight.

 

This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite

when an individual that is known to be poor today, according to Inyang (2009),

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 that selfishness and rapaciousness is an important aspect predisposing kidnappers to brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.

 

5. Drugs and Proliferation of arms

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 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 those under the effect of hard drugs.

 

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 the competent of law enforcement mechanisms. The kidnappers accessed weapons

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.

 

6 .Nature of Nigerian politics

 

Nevertheless, Inyang (2009) associated the mushrooming of abducting to the nature ofpolitics 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. 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, academics such as Ogabido (2009), Nworah (2009), Arewa (2013), Thom-Otuya (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 herdsmen in some northern states in Nigeria. However, causes of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem with slight difference in that kidnapping is in Southern Kaduna is embedded to the situation of insecurities and conflicts among the communities of the area.

 

7 .Ritual and Spiritual Proclivity

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

motive of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice purpose to obtain ritual wealth,

favour, prestige, achievement, power and protection. several politicians seek

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 forms of missiles to safeguard themselves against assassination and all that distinguishes the current political geography. According to Jegede CO (2014)

 

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 component for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

 

THE EXTENT OF KIDNAPPING  IN KADUNA AND  IT’S SOUTHERN PART

 

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 of more than 50,000 people. 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 Boko Haram insurgency. The findings of Ayuba, M. R, (2020) indicates that 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 of the participants corroborates the statement of the Nigerian Acting Inspector 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 where 365 people were abducted in the first quarter of 2019.

 

SOCIO – ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING  IN  SOUTHERN KADUNA AND  AT LARGE

 

Nigeria The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic, social, physical, medical, political, international, psychological/emotional, and moral

effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed which was one of the goal of this research.

 

.1 Economic Effect

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 to kidnappers, while the indirect economic cost of abducting include payments on

preventive measures, such as the employment of personal security personnel.At the governmental status, the economic impacts of kidnapping encompass the 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.

Similarly, Nigeria relinquishes substantial amount of earnings when immigrants

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 usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of

Kidnappers.

In many examples, it is frequently the bread winners of households that are

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 large could be deprived of development coalitions and opportunities (Akpan 2010). It

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).

 

The casualties work- place will similarly be implicated adversely. If the fatality

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.

 

2. Social Effect of Kidnapping

The danger of kidnapping has facilitated a sense of insecurity in Nigeria. Kidnapping 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. 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

kidnappers. People are coerced to present an unfinished look of poverty by not painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or use new motor vehicles for the uncertainty of kidnappers.

In respects to inter-personal connection, kidnapping has also provided to a

reasonably elevated status of distrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) “an innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually employ colleagues, families, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. To solicit relevance information which can be used to kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social nteraction among partners of the neighborhoods in southern Kaduna.

 

The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of turmoil targeting farming districts in southern Kaduna, which has been

ongoing ,which is characterized by murder, killing, looting, rape, coerced

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 kidnappers are usually targeting schools and places of worship. The farmers of Southern Kaduna are no longer comfortable in their farmlands, they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvested  and this circumstance created poverty, starvation and other social vices. Most devastating, it 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 highway crime management.

 

Summarily, Kidnapping constitutes a veritable menace to Nigeria’s endurable

development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public

safety, it sabotages economic growth and advancement by way of capital and

investment flight, It results in negative understanding of Nigeria on multinational event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it creates an environment of public insecurity, thereby threatening

the possibilities of societal improvement it has frequently led to loss of investment capital, closure of enterprises, and unemployment etc. In effect, the increasing 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 image at global arena, increase in unemployment ratio, danger of an apparent descent to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels, housings, etc. (2008: para 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLUTIONS  TO THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

 

According to previous researches conducted by Turner (1998), Akpan (2010),Iyang and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna

and Nigeria.

 

1. Training Anti- Kidnapping Agents

Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are vigorously involved, the incidence of this scandal can be diminished.

 

1. Strengthen the Security Agencies

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. Seriously Punishments for Offenders 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.

 

1. Job Creation

Creating employment for nationals, particularly for the youth, can have an

 

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.

 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

 

Kidnapping as a kind of businesslike offense is not a modern phenomenon. It is, historically, an old phenomenon traceable from ancient nations as it was discovered in 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 occurrences over time and space. According to the NYA24‟s (2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R. (2020), Asian

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 chances to develop attractive and conducive environment for both domestic investment and foreign direct investments (FDI).The world incidence of kidnapping 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 is extensively obvious in countries grappling with humanitarian crisis, particularly in most developing states in Africa. 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 militiamen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report further showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were sexually victimized by the armed militias.

In Nigeria, the issues of kidnapping have become recurrent incident making

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 communities protesting for what they described as marginalization and environmental injustice caused on them as a result of the oil exploration activities by the international companies in the area. Therefore, they deployed hostage taking of distinguished public officials and expatriates working in the international companies 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. However, the recent increased in abductions in northern part of Nigeria tends to change the narrative as it has assumed a frightening dimension thus attracting 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 minors began to assume a great magnitude and endangering socioeconomic development potentialities in the country. Consequently, by 2014 vast scale of kidnappings emerged, especially the kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in public attention. This occurrence indicated the advent of popular kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but not limited to the abductions of the former Controller- General of the Nigeria 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 happenings of kidnappings in the northern part of Nigeria as various cases leave 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 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 German Archaeologists in 2017; the kidnapping of Nigeria’s former minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the casualties of kidnapping for 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 measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.

 

STATEMENT OF the RESEARCH PROBLEM

 

The issue of kidnapping has notoriously changes Nigeria’s character as a country

internationally. It has similarly implicated Nigeria’s endeavor to establish a viable

tourism industry as foreigners are usually advised by their countries to be careful of coming to Nigeria currently, Kidnapping is assuming an alarming extent given way to unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security

terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence and reoccurrences of kidnapping have become a basis of tension, anxiety and worrisome with hundreds of people from various socioeconomic level being 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 situation resulted in displacement of persons, lack of peace and harmony as well as the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area. This security challenges in the southern Kaduna have hindered the

socio -economic development. It is from above predicament this study intends to

examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of southern 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 and its consequences on the socio  -economic development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria in general.

 

RESEARCH QUESTION

This  research shall examine the following objectives.

1. Why people indulge in kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
2. What is the extent of Kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
3. What are the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development of

southern Kaduna?

4. What are solutions to the problem of Kidnapping?

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 

1. To identify the factors responsible for kidnapping in southern Kaduna.
2. To determine the extent of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
3. To examine the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development in

Southern Kaduna.

4. To proffer solutions to the problem of Kidnapping.

 

RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

 

1. Kidnapping has negative effects on the socioeconomic development of

Southern Kaduna.

1. Kidnapping does not have negative effects on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.

 

SCOPE and LIMITATIONS OF  THE STUDY

 

This research is limited to effects of Kidnapping on Socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.

 

a . 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 data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 

1. 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 sourcing reliable data.

 

SIGNIFICANCES OF THE STUDY

 

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 Enlighten and educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of kidnapping on progress and development. It will similarly serves as a contribution to the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions and measures to be taken to tackle the problem and menace of kidnapping on socioeconomic development in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS of KEY CONCEPTS

 

1. Effect

Effect is defined as a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result influence.

1. Kidnapping

Fage and Alabi(2017,p.289)who conceived kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, 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 of seizing, confining , abducting, or carrying away a person by force or fraud often with a demand for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.

iii. Socioeconomic development

Socio- economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society. Socio – economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, safety, and levels of employment.

 

1. Development

 

According to Rodney (1972), “Development is a many-sided process implying for the individual, skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline, responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools, skills and the mobilization of required resources for development purpose”. Development simply denotes a progressive transformation from a undesirable condition to a desirable level.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals, internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content analysis for the data collected.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Literature Review

 

Conceptualization of Kidnapping

 

The concept of kidnapping is complicated to define with accuracy; this is because of the availability of different terms alike such as hostage -taking, abduction, and hijacking. In several nations, therefore these concepts are used interchangeably in which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example, in Malaysia according to the study conducted by Akpan (2010), Kidnapping of an 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 imprisoned possibly in a known area such as plane, ship, or in a building lodgings. For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without individuals is largely seen as hijacking, while in most jurisprudence or juristic interpretation, it will be termed ad theft and leaving hijacking to an unlawful seizure of both loaded truck and persons together. 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 where it is seen as the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person so as to 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,

abduction of a child to have a bargaining power especially in marital dispute.

Sometimes, kidnapping is perpetrated in order to advance a course of another crime such as human trafficking and/or slavery. Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables ranging from economic, political, religious and self-determination through coercive or fraudulent abduction of a person or group of persons. In the study of Turner’s (1998), his description of kidnapping lends support to the above conceptions where he describes it as seizing and transporting persons to a destination of unlawful 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 law website which defines kidnapping as an offence which connotes a forceful or fraudulent taking away of a person by another person without his/her consent or lawful excuse. In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping refers to a situation whereby a person or group of persons are forcibly or fraudulently 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

achieving some social, economic or political goals. This is exemplified by various 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 concept of kidnapping. Certain concepts are used alternatively to refer to acts of

kidnapping but each connotes a specific type of the act.The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1996) define kidnapping as the seizing 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 or group of persons perceived to be the reasons behind the injustice suffered by another group. However within the context of this search kidnapping is conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention of a person or persons illegally in an unknown area with aim of getting advantage or money (ransom). In a simpler terms kidnapping is an illegal act or process of 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 furtherance of another crime (New World Encyclopedia, 2018). In a broader sense, kidnapping could mean any situation of forceful disposition or 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 as follows; Kidnapping for extortion of either ransom or to influence decision making

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 criminal tendencies or political or economic reasons. Okonkwa (1980) opined that kidnapping is a broad inclusive in assault. He construed the nature of kidnapping in 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 where he is imprisoned”. From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed that there is dehumanizing tendency involved in kidnapping as it often lead to the

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 similarly reported that, kidnapping is perceived as illegitimate seizure and 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

male in to military or naval service by force or fraud. Roberton(1968) as cited in Walsh et al (1983), who perceived kidnapping as a crime of seizing, confirming abduction or carrying away of individuals by force or crime subject him or her to involuntarily servitude in an attempt to requests a ransom or furtherance of another 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

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 and held for whether ransom illegally or consensually.

 

THE OF KIDNAPPING

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 examined by many researchers. Some of these researchers encompass Turner (1998), Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),

Okoli and Agada (2014) among others.

Zannoni (2003) extensively categorised kidnapping into three (3): a) Criminal

kidnapping: This according to Zannoni (2003) is a kidnapping prompted by the quest to collect ransom from the casualty’s family, business or friends;

1. b) Political

kidnapping: this kind of kidnapping is informed by the intention to improve a political course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities plunge under this type; and

1. c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional kidnapping (Zannoni, 2003). It is a type of kidnapping where the purpose is to cause psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,

child kidnapping by separated parents among others. 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 families or business colleagues. Hence, in evolving states like Nigeria, immigrants 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

$300,000 requested for her release.

Another kind of kidnapping observed by the OSAC (2019) is tiger kidnapping or

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 guerrilla warfare. The tiger kidnapping is widespread in Asian countries.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 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 kidnappers employ several techniques or forms to commit their horrible intentions. 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

in order to deceive their unsuspecting victim. For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed express kidnappings by kidnappers standing as police officers around the country’s 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 casualties of express kidnapping are finally discharged unharmed mostly if the victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the creation of ride -share applications in various nations such as Nigeria. For example, 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

system too is being penetrated to perpetrate express kidnapping by the criminals as evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM by a criminal who posed as a rideshare driver.The fourth category of kidnapping observed by OSAC (2019) is political and 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 criminal partnerships. A multitude of happenings of this kind of kidnapping abound in

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 ideological kidnapping tends to be more pervasive in nations with extremist militant 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’ eeda which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.

OSAC (2019) observed virtual kidnapping as the fifth category of kidnapping 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 imply a condition where a bride or bridegroom is seized to an unspecified area with the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)

similarly observed this kind of abduction as a widespread habit in traditional nomadic 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

parents, even when she adores the husband. Express kidnapping is a type of kidnapping which is informed by the desire to 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 type of kidnapping as being motivated by some financial interests. Thus, express 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 victim’s 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 perpetrated by amateur kidnappers. Instances of this type of kidnapping abound in the

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 of naira, is an express kidnapping (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). 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 of using him/her to commit another crime. A situation where a bank manager is kidnapped and compelled to issue instruction to his subordinates to make an illegal transaction exemplifies tiger kidnapping. Other researchers such as Oladeinde (2017) categorized kidnapping into three: target, spontaneous and aggravated. However, in spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an undue advantage over innocent victims.

 

MOTIVES OF KIDNAPPING

 

Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following

motives:

Economic motive for kidnapping: On traditional basis, human existence is operated by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort planned to use the most profitable means to accomplish a desired motive. As a 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 get easily involved in the initial place .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 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, 2017 & Akpan 2010).

Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study (2010), where there is politically motivated kidnapping, but where necessarily ransom is demanded. It is hence examined by Nnam (2014) that, most contemporary kidnapping of prime or high-profile people, are initiated by either regime officials, unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for

kidnapping as a political vendetta for achieving political dents. In this circumstance 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 employed to resolve the political aggrieved party . Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto prevailing crimes in the country such as armed -robbery and pick- pocketing. Unemployed boys affected in indiscriminate kidnapping of any potential person, whom something could be obtained in return. Every ordinary individual including 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 following victim remained mysterious.

 

KIDNAPPING IN  NIGERIA

 

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 region.) He further observed that early kidnapping incidents in Niger Delta particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). Akpan’s findings collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta originally indulge in kidnapping to attract attention of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger encroaching people in the region.Nevertheless, kidnapping is not new a current phenomenon in Nigeria, 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 perpetrators then were commonly inferred to as ‘children snatchers or thieves’ and 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 kidnappers (child snatchers) employed charms to overwhelm the casualties or

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 sum of wealth making. The first contemporized kidnapping in Nigeria was executed by the government 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 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

manifestation of kidnapping and hostage seizing started in Niger-Delta region as a

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 notorious Islamic terrorist group Jama’ay Ahl as Sunnah lid-Da’awa wa’lJihad  popularly recognized as ‘Boko Haram ‘ (Oyewole, 2016). The problem at present mandates national emergency action, because it’s no longer a provincial problem anymore. In today’s Nigeria, Kidnapping has become a 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 STATE

 

Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky 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 abducted for ransom on daily basis.Research conducted by Mohammad (2018), disclosed that bandits abducted at least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms. According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on Tuesday January 17, 2018, at approximately 6:16pm, in Kaduna state by armed bandits. Thus, a member of lower chamber of national assembly, Garba Umar Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring of kidnapping incidence was when heavily armed kidnappers impeded the Kaduna-Abuja highway for many hours and kidnapped over 50 individuals. No 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 of lawlessness such as rubbery, bandits, cultism, burglary, ritual killings communal conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial

zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji

Muhammad Adamu kidnapping cases in Kaduna is mostly attributed with the

communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between cattle breeders and farmers.

 

PRONE AREAS OF KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA STATE 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 the passing vehicles, not realizing that they are kidnappers”.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

estates employed as hideout was located at Marafa, a new settlement along Kaduna-Abuja road, as broadcasted by Salisu Rogo of NTA. Further Vanguard 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 Jere Kateri along Kaduna Abuja.

 

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 to the federal government to announce a state of emergency on highway due to endless kidnapping of travelers of innocent citizens.

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 kidnappers. On 21st November, 2017 confirmed by (FRSC,2917), one Ardo Nijiga

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 information to security agencies in January, 2018.

 

 

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).

 

KADUNA-BIRNIN GWARI HIGHWAY

 

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. Nonetheless, from the aforementioned literatures, it is obvious that the researchers concentrated mostly on the origin, causes and implications of kidnapping on labour market in Nigeria. While other researchers studied kidnapping specifically in southern part of Nigeria as well as it effect on economic development. The implications above 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 socioeconomic development in Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

EMPERICAL 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 sample of 10 victims of kidnapping and 5 security personnel was drawn through purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty, moral decadence, widespread of unemployment, as well as payment of ransom to the 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 kidnappers, poverty alleviation,, job creation are recommended to address to problem

of kidnapping in Kaduna state

Chukuigwe, N.; Albert, C.O (2015) investigated the socio-economic

consequences of kidnapping on the development of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He employed a multistage sampling technique 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 forsupremacy (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 socio-economic indices such as: Psychological/emotional trauma (x̅ =2.61), indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),financial loss through payment of ransom / protection and forceful closure of businesses (x̅=2.35), amongst others. Inadequate/ill equipped anti-kidnapping squad (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 government, communities and other stakeholders for value reorientation. Davidson (2010) also studied the implications of kidnapping on labor market in 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

federal government‟s contemporary achievements in wooing investors into 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 Nigerian economy might be waiting for to move into complete recession. He 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 are not spared.” The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen states in Nigeria he examines causes of kidnapping and its implications on the 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

revealed that recent kidnapping in Nigeria is accelerated by resource management conflicts focused both at oil expatriate employees and at prominent citizens, 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 study concludes that kidnapping is coming to be a severe offense in Nigeria with serious negative implications for foreign investment, national foreign exchange revenue, and wealth generation.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 effects of Kidnapping on socio-economic development of Southern Kaduna has

necessitated the coming in of this research to fill in vivid gap.

 

 

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

This study adopted Structural-functionalist theory as a tool for analysis.Structural-Functionalism, in sociology and other social sciences, is a school of 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 incessant existence of the others and of society as an entirety. In structural functionalism, social change is regarded as an adaptive reaction to some uncertainty

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 degree to which given activities enhance or interface with the maintenance of a 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), who overwhelmed American social theory in the 1950s and 1960s. The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex components that are interrelated and interdependent in which each component performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organismfails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies 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 envisioned society as an organism made up of components that function harmoniously 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

pass from generation to generation.

 

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, harmony, peace, progress, and order. The theory further stressed that if one part or institution isdysfunctional (may be

the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will leads to the emergence of social problems and anti-society activities (such as kidnapping, violence, conflict etc) in the society.

 

 

CENTRAL IDEA OF  FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

The primary concern of structural functionalism is a consequence of the Durkheim’s 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

institutions) working concurrently in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward 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

status.

 

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF  STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which

different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to the

maintenance of whole system.

2. Functionalism generally assumes that institutions perform beneficial functions

(they do good things) for the individuals and society.

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 parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function

neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will

not be passed on from one generation to the subsequent (Schaefer, 2002)

 

APPLICABILITY OF  THE  THEORY

When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria and its implication on the socioeconomic development; structural functionalism 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 dysfunction within the system results in great degree of poverty, unemployment, denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate

of which kidnapping is at the lead.

The socioeconomic condition in Southern Kaduna is ignored and there is no significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such as security, hospitals, employment, good roads and communication networks which

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 productive and functional to its perpetrators. The lucrative character of kidnapping

makes it very desirable. Kidnapping as perceived in some parts of Nigeria and especially in Southern Kaduna is recognized as a dysfunctional or the fault of the governments of all levels

to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security of the people in the southern Kaduna. According to the advocates of theory, if an 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 woefully failing because according to previous studies kidnapping is accompanied by a communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

 

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 problems within society emanates from the failure of an organization to function as

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 it was established for.

 

CRITICISM

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”).

 

Another criticism directed at functionalism is that it encompasses no sense of agency, that individuals are seen as tools, working as their role expects. The most complicated forms of functionalism are founded on “a highly developed concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the individual and their actions.

 

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 which social institutions fulfill those necessities.

 

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. Anthony Giddens argues that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences. 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

important for explaining the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND

KIDNAPPING AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN

KADUNA STATE

 

BiOGRAPHT AND LOCATION OF  THE STUDY AREA

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

it in the state creation exercise of 1987. Its capital is Kaduna. Kaduna state is found at the centre of Northern Nigeria. It has a political 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

Nassarawa state to the south. Kaduna State occupies 46,053 square kilometres(National population commission of Nigeria III, 2006).

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. Kaduna State . 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

 

ECONOMY OF KADUNA STATE

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 relative benefit in as it is the dominating producer in the nation. Additional important 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, kyanite, gold, graphite and sillimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural substance utilized in the industry of pencils, crucibles, electrodes, generator brushes and other sundry components. Kaduna state is an urban as well as a cultured/cosmopolitan industrialized state with over 80 commercial and manufacturing industries. Goods varying from carpets, textiles, reinforced tangible materials, bicycles 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, New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United

Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refrigerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company Limited, Electricity Metres Company Nigeria Limited and Rigid Pack Containers Limited, Zaria among others(“Encyclopedia 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

contemporary parks and gardens (KRPC, 2019).

 

SOUTHERN KADUNA

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 districts of the state. Southern Kaduna is multi- ethnic and pre dominantly occupied by largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem, Kagoma,Kaningkon, Kagoro, Fanstwan, Numana, Mada, Moroa, Attakar, Ayu, Kataf,

Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on. The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern Kaduna senatorial zones and these are predominantly occupied by Hausa-Fulani 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 governments of Southern Kaduna put together have a population of 1,792,169, i.e., 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 people southern Kaduna is predominantly agriculture and small businesses scales.

 

 

KIDNAPPING AND  SOCIO -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND NIGERIA AT LARGE

 

A study conducted by Badamasi S. Et al, (2018) their study revealed that

kidnapping has serious effects on development of Nigeria that kidnapping in Kaduna 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 occurrences of the incidence, traveler‟s advisory is being issued by nations to their citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state. This will therefore, have an adverse effect on economic possible development of 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

when it comes to issue of security.

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

conditions of the Nigerian economy, unemployment and weak citizen-security ratio 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 billion naira on security alone (Sahara reporters, 2017).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

external fittings, presenting their economic incapacity in effort to avoid becoming casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders 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

people, with some rarely respond to friendly greetings to uncommon individuals.

 

The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same

developing nations such as Malaysia is not possible due to low technology

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

 

ISSUE OF f KIDNAPPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN KADUNA.

 

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 motivatingcircumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factorsinspiring kidnapping as a destructive crime in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating factors relatively endless. Commonly, investigators are sharp to question socioeconomic, political and religious factors as drivers of kidnapping in Nigeria (Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).

 

One remarkable correspondence in all the researches on the drivers of kidnapping isthe agreement that the phenomenon opposes mono-causal justifications as it ispropelled by so several influences. Below are some of the causes of kidnapping;

 

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 research conducted by Adegoke (2015) found unemployment by a ledge of 88% as the 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 and hampered unemployed teenagers frequently use to immoral actions as a means of survival (Inyang, 2009).

 

In same vein, Ejimabo (2013) characterized the happening of pervasive

unemployment among the youths as an obstacle to the management and deterence of 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 financial means to compensate them. Substantiating this perspective, Thom-Otuya (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 implications for national advancement. Looking at the consequences of unemployment on crime causation from psychological standpoint, Inyang (2009) emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their delinquency to secure the employment to the community. Joblessness as the 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,both unemployed for years (Ugwuoke, 2011).

 

2. Poverty

Researchers associate the mushrooming of kidnapping in Nigeria to endemic poverty in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximumcrude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as thebiggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in theglobe (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 aForeign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and Economic Information Centre, CEIC, 2019).However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as thecenter 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 sixNigerians 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 many researchers found positive correlation between poverty and kidnapping in Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor

associated with bad governance characterized by corrupt practices verge to develop weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived sense of economic denial. Thom-Otuya (2010) alleged that majority of Nigerians suffer from scarcity of essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.Therefore, according to him, poverty is an ingredient encouraging lawlessness not

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 defined by pervasive poverty and social mistreatment.

 

3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern

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. This is exceptionally accurate because kidnapping in southern Kaduna differed as it has a nexus with communal crisis.

 

4. Greediness and Moral Decadence

Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome havebeen recognized as circumstances stimulating kidnapping (Ogbuehi, 2018; Inyang andUbong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get richsyndrome, 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 criminality so as to make wealth overnight.

 

This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite

when an individual that is known to be poor today, according to Inyang (2009),

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 that selfishness and rapaciousness is an important aspect predisposing kidnappers to brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.

 

5. Drugs and Proliferation of arms

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 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 those under the effect of hard drugs.

 

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 the competent of law enforcement mechanisms. The kidnappers accessed weapons

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.

 

6 .Nature of Nigerian politics

 

Nevertheless, Inyang (2009) associated the mushrooming of abducting to the nature ofpolitics 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. 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, academics such as Ogabido (2009), Nworah (2009), Arewa (2013), Thom-Otuya (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 herdsmen in some northern states in Nigeria. However, causes of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem with slight difference in that kidnapping is in Southern Kaduna is embedded to the situation of insecurities and conflicts among the communities of the area.

 

7 .Ritual and Spiritual Proclivity

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

motive of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice purpose to obtain ritual wealth,

favour, prestige, achievement, power and protection. several politicians seek

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 forms of missiles to safeguard themselves against assassination and all that distinguishes the current political geography. According to Jegede CO (2014)

 

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 component for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

 

THE EXTENT OF KIDNAPPING  IN KADUNA AND  IT’S SOUTHERN PART

 

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 of more than 50,000 people. 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 Boko Haram insurgency. The findings of Ayuba, M. R, (2020) indicates that 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 of the participants corroborates the statement of the Nigerian Acting Inspector 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 where 365 people were abducted in the first quarter of 2019.

 

SOCIO – ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING  IN  SOUTHERN KADUNA AND  AT LARGE

 

Nigeria The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic, social, physical, medical, political, international, psychological/emotional, and moral

effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed which was one of the goal of this research.

 

.1 Economic Effect

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 to kidnappers, while the indirect economic cost of abducting include payments on

preventive measures, such as the employment of personal security personnel.At the governmental status, the economic impacts of kidnapping encompass the 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.

Similarly, Nigeria relinquishes substantial amount of earnings when immigrants

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 usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of

Kidnappers.

In many examples, it is frequently the bread winners of households that are

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 large could be deprived of development coalitions and opportunities (Akpan 2010). It

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).

 

The casualties work- place will similarly be implicated adversely. If the fatality

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.

 

2. Social Effect of Kidnapping

The danger of kidnapping has facilitated a sense of insecurity in Nigeria. Kidnapping 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. 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

kidnappers. People are coerced to present an unfinished look of poverty by not painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or use new motor vehicles for the uncertainty of kidnappers.

In respects to inter-personal connection, kidnapping has also provided to a

reasonably elevated status of distrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) “an innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually employ colleagues, families, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. To solicit relevance information which can be used to kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social nteraction among partners of the neighborhoods in southern Kaduna.

 

The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of turmoil targeting farming districts in southern Kaduna, which has been

ongoing ,which is characterized by murder, killing, looting, rape, coerced

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 kidnappers are usually targeting schools and places of worship. The farmers of Southern Kaduna are no longer comfortable in their farmlands, they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvested  and this circumstance created poverty, starvation and other social vices. Most devastating, it 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 highway crime management.

 

Summarily, Kidnapping constitutes a veritable menace to Nigeria’s endurable

development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public

safety, it sabotages economic growth and advancement by way of capital and

investment flight, It results in negative understanding of Nigeria on multinational event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it creates an environment of public insecurity, thereby threatening

the possibilities of societal improvement it has frequently led to loss of investment capital, closure of enterprises, and unemployment etc. In effect, the increasing 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 image at global arena, increase in unemployment ratio, danger of an apparent descent to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels, housings, etc. (2008: para 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLUTIONS  TO THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

 

According to previous researches conducted by Turner (1998), Akpan (2010),Iyang and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna

and Nigeria.

 

1. Training Anti- Kidnapping Agents

Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are vigorously involved, the incidence of this scandal can be diminished.

 

1. Strengthen the Security Agencies

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. Seriously Punishments for Offenders 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.

 

1. Job Creation

Creating employment for nationals, particularly for the youth, can have an

 

 

 

On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:14 lukuman tajuddeen, <www.lukumantajuddeen90@gmail.com> wrote:

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.

 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

 

Kidnapping as a kind of businesslike offense is not a modern phenomenon. It is, historically, an old phenomenon traceable from ancient nations as it was discovered in 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 occurrences over time and space. According to the NYA24‟s (2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R. (2020), Asian

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 chances to develop attractive and conducive environment for both domestic investment and foreign direct investments (FDI).The world incidence of kidnapping 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 is extensively obvious in countries grappling with humanitarian crisis, particularly in most developing states in Africa. 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 militiamen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report further showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were sexually victimized by the armed militias.

In Nigeria, the issues of kidnapping have become recurrent incident making

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 communities protesting for what they described as marginalization and environmental injustice caused on them as a result of the oil exploration activities by the international companies in the area. Therefore, they deployed hostage taking of distinguished public officials and expatriates working in the international companies 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. However, the recent increased in abductions in northern part of Nigeria tends to change the narrative as it has assumed a frightening dimension thus attracting 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 minors began to assume a great magnitude and endangering socioeconomic development potentialities in the country. Consequently, by 2014 vast scale of kidnappings emerged, especially the kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in public attention. This occurrence indicated the advent of popular kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but not limited to the abductions of the former Controller- General of the Nigeria 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 happenings of kidnappings in the northern part of Nigeria as various cases leave 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 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 German Archaeologists in 2017; the kidnapping of Nigeria’s former minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the casualties of kidnapping for 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 measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.

 

STATEMENT OF the RESEARCH PROBLEM

 

The issue of kidnapping has notoriously changes Nigeria’s character as a country

internationally. It has similarly implicated Nigeria’s endeavor to establish a viable

tourism industry as foreigners are usually advised by their countries to be careful of coming to Nigeria currently, Kidnapping is assuming an alarming extent given way to unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security

terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence and reoccurrences of kidnapping have become a basis of tension, anxiety and worrisome with hundreds of people from various socioeconomic level being 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 situation resulted in displacement of persons, lack of peace and harmony as well as the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area. This security challenges in the southern Kaduna have hindered the

socio -economic development. It is from above predicament this study intends to

examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of southern 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 and its consequences on the socio  -economic development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria in general.

 

RESEARCH QUESTION

This  research shall examine the following objectives.

1. Why people indulge in kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
2. What is the extent of Kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
3. What are the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development of

southern Kaduna?

4. What are solutions to the problem of Kidnapping?

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 

1. To identify the factors responsible for kidnapping in southern Kaduna.
2. To determine the extent of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
3. To examine the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development in

Southern Kaduna.

4. To proffer solutions to the problem of Kidnapping.

 

RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

 

1. Kidnapping has negative effects on the socioeconomic development of

Southern Kaduna.

1. Kidnapping does not have negative effects on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.

 

SCOPE and LIMITATIONS OF  THE STUDY

 

This research is limited to effects of Kidnapping on Socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.

 

a . 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 data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 

1. 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 sourcing reliable data.

 

SIGNIFICANCES OF THE STUDY

 

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 Enlighten and educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of kidnapping on progress and development. It will similarly serves as a contribution to the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions and measures to be taken to tackle the problem and menace of kidnapping on socioeconomic development in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS of KEY CONCEPTS

 

1. Effect

Effect is defined as a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result influence.

1. Kidnapping

Fage and Alabi(2017,p.289)who conceived kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, 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 of seizing, confining , abducting, or carrying away a person by force or fraud often with a demand for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.

iii. Socioeconomic development

Socio- economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society. Socio – economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, safety, and levels of employment.

 

1. Development

 

According to Rodney (1972), “Development is a many-sided process implying for the individual, skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline, responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools, skills and the mobilization of required resources for development purpose”. Development simply denotes a progressive transformation from a undesirable condition to a desirable level.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals, internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content analysis for the data collected.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Literature Review

 

Conceptualization of Kidnapping

 

The concept of kidnapping is complicated to define with accuracy; this is because of the availability of different terms alike such as hostage -taking, abduction, and hijacking. In several nations, therefore these concepts are used interchangeably in which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example, in Malaysia according to the study conducted by Akpan (2010), Kidnapping of an 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 imprisoned possibly in a known area such as plane, ship, or in a building lodgings. For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without individuals is largely seen as hijacking, while in most jurisprudence or juristic interpretation, it will be termed ad theft and leaving hijacking to an unlawful seizure of both loaded truck and persons together. 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 where it is seen as the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person so as to 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,

abduction of a child to have a bargaining power especially in marital dispute.

Sometimes, kidnapping is perpetrated in order to advance a course of another crime such as human trafficking and/or slavery. Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables ranging from economic, political, religious and self-determination through coercive or fraudulent abduction of a person or group of persons. In the study of Turner’s (1998), his description of kidnapping lends support to the above conceptions where he describes it as seizing and transporting persons to a destination of unlawful 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 law website which defines kidnapping as an offence which connotes a forceful or fraudulent taking away of a person by another person without his/her consent or lawful excuse. In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping refers to a situation whereby a person or group of persons are forcibly or fraudulently 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

achieving some social, economic or political goals. This is exemplified by various 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 concept of kidnapping. Certain concepts are used alternatively to refer to acts of

kidnapping but each connotes a specific type of the act.The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1996) define kidnapping as the seizing 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 or group of persons perceived to be the reasons behind the injustice suffered by another group. However within the context of this search kidnapping is conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention of a person or persons illegally in an unknown area with aim of getting advantage or money (ransom). In a simpler terms kidnapping is an illegal act or process of 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 furtherance of another crime (New World Encyclopedia, 2018). In a broader sense, kidnapping could mean any situation of forceful disposition or 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 as follows; Kidnapping for extortion of either ransom or to influence decision making

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 criminal tendencies or political or economic reasons. Okonkwa (1980) opined that kidnapping is a broad inclusive in assault. He construed the nature of kidnapping in 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 where he is imprisoned”. From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed that there is dehumanizing tendency involved in kidnapping as it often lead to the

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 similarly reported that, kidnapping is perceived as illegitimate seizure and 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

male in to military or naval service by force or fraud. Roberton(1968) as cited in Walsh et al (1983), who perceived kidnapping as a crime of seizing, confirming abduction or carrying away of individuals by force or crime subject him or her to involuntarily servitude in an attempt to requests a ransom or furtherance of another 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

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 and held for whether ransom illegally or consensually.

 

THE OF KIDNAPPING

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 examined by many researchers. Some of these researchers encompass Turner (1998), Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),

Okoli and Agada (2014) among others.

Zannoni (2003) extensively categorised kidnapping into three (3): a) Criminal

kidnapping: This according to Zannoni (2003) is a kidnapping prompted by the quest to collect ransom from the casualty’s family, business or friends;

1. b) Political

kidnapping: this kind of kidnapping is informed by the intention to improve a political course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities plunge under this type; and

1. c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional kidnapping (Zannoni, 2003). It is a type of kidnapping where the purpose is to cause psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,

child kidnapping by separated parents among others. 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 families or business colleagues. Hence, in evolving states like Nigeria, immigrants 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

$300,000 requested for her release.

Another kind of kidnapping observed by the OSAC (2019) is tiger kidnapping or

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 guerrilla warfare. The tiger kidnapping is widespread in Asian countries.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 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 kidnappers employ several techniques or forms to commit their horrible intentions. 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

in order to deceive their unsuspecting victim. For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed express kidnappings by kidnappers standing as police officers around the country’s 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 casualties of express kidnapping are finally discharged unharmed mostly if the victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the creation of ride -share applications in various nations such as Nigeria. For example, 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

system too is being penetrated to perpetrate express kidnapping by the criminals as evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM by a criminal who posed as a rideshare driver.The fourth category of kidnapping observed by OSAC (2019) is political and 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 criminal partnerships. A multitude of happenings of this kind of kidnapping abound in

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 ideological kidnapping tends to be more pervasive in nations with extremist militant 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’ eeda which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.

OSAC (2019) observed virtual kidnapping as the fifth category of kidnapping 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 imply a condition where a bride or bridegroom is seized to an unspecified area with the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)

similarly observed this kind of abduction as a widespread habit in traditional nomadic 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

parents, even when she adores the husband. Express kidnapping is a type of kidnapping which is informed by the desire to 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 type of kidnapping as being motivated by some financial interests. Thus, express 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 victim’s 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 perpetrated by amateur kidnappers. Instances of this type of kidnapping abound in the

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 of naira, is an express kidnapping (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). 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 of using him/her to commit another crime. A situation where a bank manager is kidnapped and compelled to issue instruction to his subordinates to make an illegal transaction exemplifies tiger kidnapping. Other researchers such as Oladeinde (2017) categorized kidnapping into three: target, spontaneous and aggravated. However, in spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an undue advantage over innocent victims.

 

MOTIVES OF KIDNAPPING

 

Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following

motives:

Economic motive for kidnapping: On traditional basis, human existence is operated by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort planned to use the most profitable means to accomplish a desired motive. As a 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 get easily involved in the initial place .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 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, 2017 & Akpan 2010).

Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study (2010), where there is politically motivated kidnapping, but where necessarily ransom is demanded. It is hence examined by Nnam (2014) that, most contemporary kidnapping of prime or high-profile people, are initiated by either regime officials, unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for

kidnapping as a political vendetta for achieving political dents. In this circumstance 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 employed to resolve the political aggrieved party . Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto prevailing crimes in the country such as armed -robbery and pick- pocketing. Unemployed boys affected in indiscriminate kidnapping of any potential person, whom something could be obtained in return. Every ordinary individual including 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 following victim remained mysterious.

 

KIDNAPPING IN  NIGERIA

 

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 region.) He further observed that early kidnapping incidents in Niger Delta particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). Akpan’s findings collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta originally indulge in kidnapping to attract attention of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger encroaching people in the region.Nevertheless, kidnapping is not new a current phenomenon in Nigeria, 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 perpetrators then were commonly inferred to as ‘children snatchers or thieves’ and 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 kidnappers (child snatchers) employed charms to overwhelm the casualties or

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 sum of wealth making. The first contemporized kidnapping in Nigeria was executed by the government 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 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

manifestation of kidnapping and hostage seizing started in Niger-Delta region as a

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 notorious Islamic terrorist group Jama’ay Ahl as Sunnah lid-Da’awa wa’lJihad  popularly recognized as ‘Boko Haram ‘ (Oyewole, 2016). The problem at present mandates national emergency action, because it’s no longer a provincial problem anymore. In today’s Nigeria, Kidnapping has become a 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 STATE

 

Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky 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 abducted for ransom on daily basis.Research conducted by Mohammad (2018), disclosed that bandits abducted at least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms. According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on Tuesday January 17, 2018, at approximately 6:16pm, in Kaduna state by armed bandits. Thus, a member of lower chamber of national assembly, Garba Umar Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring of kidnapping incidence was when heavily armed kidnappers impeded the Kaduna-Abuja highway for many hours and kidnapped over 50 individuals. No 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 of lawlessness such as rubbery, bandits, cultism, burglary, ritual killings communal conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial

zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji

Muhammad Adamu kidnapping cases in Kaduna is mostly attributed with the

communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between cattle breeders and farmers.

 

PRONE AREAS OF KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA STATE 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 the passing vehicles, not realizing that they are kidnappers”.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

estates employed as hideout was located at Marafa, a new settlement along Kaduna-Abuja road, as broadcasted by Salisu Rogo of NTA. Further Vanguard 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 Jere Kateri along Kaduna Abuja.

 

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 to the federal government to announce a state of emergency on highway due to endless kidnapping of travelers of innocent citizens.

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 kidnappers. On 21st November, 2017 confirmed by (FRSC,2917), one Ardo Nijiga

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 information to security agencies in January, 2018.

 

 

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).

 

KADUNA-BIRNIN GWARI HIGHWAY

 

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. Nonetheless, from the aforementioned literatures, it is obvious that the researchers concentrated mostly on the origin, causes and implications of kidnapping on labour market in Nigeria. While other researchers studied kidnapping specifically in southern part of Nigeria as well as it effect on economic development. The implications above 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 socioeconomic development in Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

EMPERICAL 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 sample of 10 victims of kidnapping and 5 security personnel was drawn through purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty, moral decadence, widespread of unemployment, as well as payment of ransom to the 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 kidnappers, poverty alleviation,, job creation are recommended to address to problem

of kidnapping in Kaduna state

Chukuigwe, N.; Albert, C.O (2015) investigated the socio-economic

consequences of kidnapping on the development of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He employed a multistage sampling technique 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 forsupremacy (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 socio-economic indices such as: Psychological/emotional trauma (x̅ =2.61), indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),financial loss through payment of ransom / protection and forceful closure of businesses (x̅=2.35), amongst others. Inadequate/ill equipped anti-kidnapping squad (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 government, communities and other stakeholders for value reorientation. Davidson (2010) also studied the implications of kidnapping on labor market in 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

federal government‟s contemporary achievements in wooing investors into 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 Nigerian economy might be waiting for to move into complete recession. He 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 are not spared.” The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen states in Nigeria he examines causes of kidnapping and its implications on the 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

revealed that recent kidnapping in Nigeria is accelerated by resource management conflicts focused both at oil expatriate employees and at prominent citizens, 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 study concludes that kidnapping is coming to be a severe offense in Nigeria with serious negative implications for foreign investment, national foreign exchange revenue, and wealth generation.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 effects of Kidnapping on socio-economic development of Southern Kaduna has

necessitated the coming in of this research to fill in vivid gap.

 

 

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

This study adopted Structural-functionalist theory as a tool for analysis.Structural-Functionalism, in sociology and other social sciences, is a school of 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 incessant existence of the others and of society as an entirety. In structural functionalism, social change is regarded as an adaptive reaction to some uncertainty

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 degree to which given activities enhance or interface with the maintenance of a 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), who overwhelmed American social theory in the 1950s and 1960s. The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex components that are interrelated and interdependent in which each component performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organismfails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies 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 envisioned society as an organism made up of components that function harmoniously 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

pass from generation to generation.

 

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, harmony, peace, progress, and order. The theory further stressed that if one part or institution isdysfunctional (may be

the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will leads to the emergence of social problems and anti-society activities (such as kidnapping, violence, conflict etc) in the society.

 

 

CENTRAL IDEA OF  FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

The primary concern of structural functionalism is a consequence of the Durkheim’s 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

institutions) working concurrently in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward 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

status.

 

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF  STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which

different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to the

maintenance of whole system.

2. Functionalism generally assumes that institutions perform beneficial functions

(they do good things) for the individuals and society.

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 parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function

neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will

not be passed on from one generation to the subsequent (Schaefer, 2002)

 

APPLICABILITY OF  THE  THEORY

When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria and its implication on the socioeconomic development; structural functionalism 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 dysfunction within the system results in great degree of poverty, unemployment, denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate

of which kidnapping is at the lead.

The socioeconomic condition in Southern Kaduna is ignored and there is no significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such as security, hospitals, employment, good roads and communication networks which

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 productive and functional to its perpetrators. The lucrative character of kidnapping

makes it very desirable. Kidnapping as perceived in some parts of Nigeria and especially in Southern Kaduna is recognized as a dysfunctional or the fault of the governments of all levels

to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security of the people in the southern Kaduna. According to the advocates of theory, if an 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 woefully failing because according to previous studies kidnapping is accompanied by a communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

 

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 problems within society emanates from the failure of an organization to function as

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 it was established for.

 

CRITICISM

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”).

 

Another criticism directed at functionalism is that it encompasses no sense of agency, that individuals are seen as tools, working as their role expects. The most complicated forms of functionalism are founded on “a highly developed concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the individual and their actions.

 

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 which social institutions fulfill those necessities.

 

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. Anthony Giddens argues that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences. 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

important for explaining the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND

KIDNAPPING AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN

KADUNA STATE

 

BiOGRAPHT AND LOCATION OF  THE STUDY AREA

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

it in the state creation exercise of 1987. Its capital is Kaduna. Kaduna state is found at the centre of Northern Nigeria. It has a political 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

Nassarawa state to the south. Kaduna State occupies 46,053 square kilometres(National population commission of Nigeria III, 2006).

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. Kaduna State . 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

 

ECONOMY OF KADUNA STATE

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 relative benefit in as it is the dominating producer in the nation. Additional important 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, kyanite, gold, graphite and sillimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural substance utilized in the industry of pencils, crucibles, electrodes, generator brushes and other sundry components. Kaduna state is an urban as well as a cultured/cosmopolitan industrialized state with over 80 commercial and manufacturing industries. Goods varying from carpets, textiles, reinforced tangible materials, bicycles 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, New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United

Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refrigerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company Limited, Electricity Metres Company Nigeria Limited and Rigid Pack Containers Limited, Zaria among others(“Encyclopedia 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

contemporary parks and gardens (KRPC, 2019).

 

SOUTHERN KADUNA

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 districts of the state. Southern Kaduna is multi- ethnic and pre dominantly occupied by largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem, Kagoma,Kaningkon, Kagoro, Fanstwan, Numana, Mada, Moroa, Attakar, Ayu, Kataf,

Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on. The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern Kaduna senatorial zones and these are predominantly occupied by Hausa-Fulani 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 governments of Southern Kaduna put together have a population of 1,792,169, i.e., 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 people southern Kaduna is predominantly agriculture and small businesses scales.

 

 

KIDNAPPING AND  SOCIO -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND NIGERIA AT LARGE

 

A study conducted by Badamasi S. Et al, (2018) their study revealed that

kidnapping has serious effects on development of Nigeria that kidnapping in Kaduna 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 occurrences of the incidence, traveler‟s advisory is being issued by nations to their citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state. This will therefore, have an adverse effect on economic possible development of 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

when it comes to issue of security.

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

conditions of the Nigerian economy, unemployment and weak citizen-security ratio 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 billion naira on security alone (Sahara reporters, 2017).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

external fittings, presenting their economic incapacity in effort to avoid becoming casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders 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

people, with some rarely respond to friendly greetings to uncommon individuals.

 

The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same

developing nations such as Malaysia is not possible due to low technology

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

 

ISSUE OF f KIDNAPPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN KADUNA.

 

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 motivatingcircumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factorsinspiring kidnapping as a destructive crime in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating factors relatively endless. Commonly, investigators are sharp to question socioeconomic, political and religious factors as drivers of kidnapping in Nigeria (Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).

 

One remarkable correspondence in all the researches on the drivers of kidnapping isthe agreement that the phenomenon opposes mono-causal justifications as it ispropelled by so several influences. Below are some of the causes of kidnapping;

 

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 research conducted by Adegoke (2015) found unemployment by a ledge of 88% as the 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 and hampered unemployed teenagers frequently use to immoral actions as a means of survival (Inyang, 2009).

 

In same vein, Ejimabo (2013) characterized the happening of pervasive

unemployment among the youths as an obstacle to the management and deterence of 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 financial means to compensate them. Substantiating this perspective, Thom-Otuya (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 implications for national advancement. Looking at the consequences of unemployment on crime causation from psychological standpoint, Inyang (2009) emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their delinquency to secure the employment to the community. Joblessness as the 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,both unemployed for years (Ugwuoke, 2011).

 

2. Poverty

Researchers associate the mushrooming of kidnapping in Nigeria to endemic poverty in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximumcrude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as thebiggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in theglobe (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 aForeign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and Economic Information Centre, CEIC, 2019).However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as thecenter 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 sixNigerians 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 many researchers found positive correlation between poverty and kidnapping in Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor

associated with bad governance characterized by corrupt practices verge to develop weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived sense of economic denial. Thom-Otuya (2010) alleged that majority of Nigerians suffer from scarcity of essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.Therefore, according to him, poverty is an ingredient encouraging lawlessness not

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 defined by pervasive poverty and social mistreatment.

 

3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern

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. This is exceptionally accurate because kidnapping in southern Kaduna differed as it has a nexus with communal crisis.

 

4. Greediness and Moral Decadence

Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome havebeen recognized as circumstances stimulating kidnapping (Ogbuehi, 2018; Inyang andUbong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get richsyndrome, 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 criminality so as to make wealth overnight.

 

This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite

when an individual that is known to be poor today, according to Inyang (2009),

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 that selfishness and rapaciousness is an important aspect predisposing kidnappers to brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.

 

5. Drugs and Proliferation of arms

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 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 those under the effect of hard drugs.

 

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 the competent of law enforcement mechanisms. The kidnappers accessed weapons

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.

 

6 .Nature of Nigerian politics

 

Nevertheless, Inyang (2009) associated the mushrooming of abducting to the nature ofpolitics 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. 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, academics such as Ogabido (2009), Nworah (2009), Arewa (2013), Thom-Otuya (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 herdsmen in some northern states in Nigeria. However, causes of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem with slight difference in that kidnapping is in Southern Kaduna is embedded to the situation of insecurities and conflicts among the communities of the area.

 

7 .Ritual and Spiritual Proclivity

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

motive of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice purpose to obtain ritual wealth,

favour, prestige, achievement, power and protection. several politicians seek

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 forms of missiles to safeguard themselves against assassination and all that distinguishes the current political geography. According to Jegede CO (2014)

 

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 component for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

 

THE EXTENT OF KIDNAPPING  IN KADUNA AND  IT’S SOUTHERN PART

 

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 of more than 50,000 people. 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 Boko Haram insurgency. The findings of Ayuba, M. R, (2020) indicates that 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 of the participants corroborates the statement of the Nigerian Acting Inspector 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 where 365 people were abducted in the first quarter of 2019.

 

SOCIO – ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING  IN  SOUTHERN KADUNA AND  AT LARGE

 

Nigeria The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic, social, physical, medical, political, international, psychological/emotional, and moral

effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed which was one of the goal of this research.

 

.1 Economic Effect

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 to kidnappers, while the indirect economic cost of abducting include payments on

preventive measures, such as the employment of personal security personnel.At the governmental status, the economic impacts of kidnapping encompass the 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.

Similarly, Nigeria relinquishes substantial amount of earnings when immigrants

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 usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of

Kidnappers.

In many examples, it is frequently the bread winners of households that are

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 large could be deprived of development coalitions and opportunities (Akpan 2010). It

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).

 

The casualties work- place will similarly be implicated adversely. If the fatality

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.

 

2. Social Effect of Kidnapping

The danger of kidnapping has facilitated a sense of insecurity in Nigeria. Kidnapping 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. 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

kidnappers. People are coerced to present an unfinished look of poverty by not painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or use new motor vehicles for the uncertainty of kidnappers.

In respects to inter-personal connection, kidnapping has also provided to a

reasonably elevated status of distrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) “an innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually employ colleagues, families, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. To solicit relevance information which can be used to kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social nteraction among partners of the neighborhoods in southern Kaduna.

 

The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of turmoil targeting farming districts in southern Kaduna, which has been

ongoing ,which is characterized by murder, killing, looting, rape, coerced

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 kidnappers are usually targeting schools and places of worship. The farmers of Southern Kaduna are no longer comfortable in their farmlands, they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvested  and this circumstance created poverty, starvation and other social vices. Most devastating, it 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 highway crime management.

 

Summarily, Kidnapping constitutes a veritable menace to Nigeria’s endurable

development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public

safety, it sabotages economic growth and advancement by way of capital and

investment flight, It results in negative understanding of Nigeria on multinational event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it creates an environment of public insecurity, thereby threatening

the possibilities of societal improvement it has frequently led to loss of investment capital, closure of enterprises, and unemployment etc. In effect, the increasing 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 image at global arena, increase in unemployment ratio, danger of an apparent descent to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels, housings, etc. (2008: para 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLUTIONS  TO THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

 

According to previous researches conducted by Turner (1998), Akpan (2010),Iyang and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna

and Nigeria.

 

1. Training Anti- Kidnapping Agents

Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are vigorously involved, the incidence of this scandal can be diminished.

 

1. Strengthen the Security Agencies

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. Seriously Punishments for Offenders 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.

 

1. 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 not prefer to perpetrate crimes.

 

 

1. Tackling the conflict between herdsmen and farmers; 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 control to dearest level, Kidnapping will simultaneously curtail.

 

 

1. SIM Cards Registration

 

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 all, the perpetrators employed phone -based procedure for negotiation of ransom.

 

 

1. Quitting Ransom Payment

 

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.

 

 

1. Consolidation and Adoption of a Re- Modified System of Community Policing .The unification and adoption of a modified system of community policing idea would be a veritable security information source to the security mechanisms. The recent security outfits formed to police the neighborhood should be recurring and revealing and reporting any uncertain movement about kidnapper’s hideaways. They should be empowered with trucks and communication equipment and

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 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

 

caught lodging kidnap casualties should be confiscated or demolished for prospective occurrence and decent and safe society.

 

1. Stoppage of Small and Light Arms Proliferation 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 present power, without even fulling the catalyst.This weapons coercive potent manipulated by the perpetrators to deal with their

 

kidnapees to coerce with their demand without opposition and hesitation. The

 

government needs to regulate it passable boundaries to content illicit discharges of 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.

 

 

DiSCUSSION OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS

 

 

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 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 means of making wealth, this is similarly confirms earlier researches by Ohakhire (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 happening of kidnapping for ransom grow due to scarcity of employment opportunities for crowding youth which dishearten them and ultimately directs them to perpetrating many forms of crimes comprising kidnapping.

 

The study found that the payment of ransom to the kidnappers to be one of the primary catalysts of kidnapping in the Southern Kaduna because kidnapping is perceived as lucrative business venture. According to the victims confirmed in Ayuba, 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 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 previously fatalities of ethnic or religious conflict circumstance who have beenradicalized and misplaced their belongings.

 

Furthermore, the study revealed that poor governance, decadence of moral

standards and values, nature of Nigerian politics are some of the factors motivating kidnapping within the country. 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 kidnapping in the first quarter of 2019.

 

The study revealed that kidnapping has an obvious consequences and

 

implications on the socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna because 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 effect on economic growth and development of Southern Kaduna. The study found that kidnapping has an obvious negative consequence especially in respects to inter- personal relationship; kidnapping has also contributed to a 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 researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually engage friends, relatives, neighbours, coworkers, house helps, etc

 

 

The study further revealed that kidnapping creates high level of mistrust among people because it involves physical violence, rape, stealing, and murder money victimization among others. The study found that there mechanisms to curb the menace of kidnapping such as Stoppage of paying money to kidnappers, strengthen security agencies, SIM registration, serious punishment for kidnappers, creation of job opportunities and

 

handling the problems regarding communal conflict in southern Kaduna.

 

 

 

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

 

 

SUMMARY

 

This study is designed to examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic

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, unemployment, standards, payment of ransom to kidnappers, etc. It was found that kidnapping in Southern Kaduna is on increase to a terrible extent, so rampant in Kaduna state and Nigeria this present time hardly couple of days without people being kidnapped. Furthermore, an effect of kidnapping in Kaduna has obvious implications 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,

offices, roads, and a night trip has become risky. 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.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

 

 

Based on the findings of this study the following recommendations were made.

 

 

 

1. To the Government

 

The state should make kidnapping a high risk crime a and low reward adventure and 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

 

enlightening local farmers on modern techniques of farming so as to enhance their productivity and boost their harvest.

 

Equally, the federal government through the ministry of agriculture should further

 

subsidize fertilizer for poor local farmers. 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, effectivetransportation system, healthcare delivery and educational facilities to the rural communities. These measures will go a long way in preventing massive exodus of the

 

youths from rural communities to urban areas. Government (particularly the Local government) should collabourate with 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

 

kidnapping in Southern Kaduna.

 

 

1. To Non -governmental Organization

 

The study recommends that non- governmental organisations should also be part of the war on kidnapping in Nigeria and neighbouring states, through awareness creation programmes and seminars to educate the people of southern Kaduna on the destructive effects of kidnapping.

 

 

The study also recommends that for kidnapping to reduce, there is to address the problem of unemployment in the country through direct government intervention 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 as a means of getting sharp wealth.

 

 

Another important recommendation made by study is that, to tame the upsurge of 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. Religious bodies should also engage in the combat of kidnapping as moral decadence among people also served as a motivating factor for kidnapping.

 

Conclusion

 

This study has examined the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of 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 among the teeming youths. Furthermore, bad administration epitomized in corrupt practices of public servants and political elites, conflicts in the area under study have been characterized as some of the motivating conditions for kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

The study concluded that provisions of basic amenities such as decent road networks, effective healthcare facilities, adequate educational facilities, preventing communal

crises of other crucial public services such as electricity, quality potable water supply,equal access to employments will immensely help in addressing the menace of kidnapping. The study also concludes that if the aforementioned measures are followed strictly the problem of kidnapping will be reduced to a bearable level.

 

 

REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arewa, J. A. (2013). Core National Values as Determinant of National Security and Panacea for the Crime of Kidnapping and Abduction inNigeria. Nigerian Institute

of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria.

Ayuba, M.R. (2020). Kidnap for Ransom: Exploring the catalysts in Kaduna, Kaduna

State, Nigeria, Zaria Sociological Journal. Published by the Department of

Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria 6(1)

Adegoke, N (2015) Kidnapping, Security Challenges and Socioeconomic Implications

to the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, Vol. 16(2), PP. 205-216.

Busari, S. (2018). UNICEF: Boko Haram has kidnapped more than 1000 Children in

Nigeria. CNN. Retrieved on (02/03/2019)

Bryne, J. M. and Taxman, F. S. (2006). Crime Control Strategies and Community

Change-Reforming the Surveillance Vs Treatment Debate. Federal

Probation.

Badamasi S, Ummu, A.A & Dr. Kamarul Z. (2018). “Kidnapping

and Rise of Insecurity in Nigeria” : A Case of Kaduna State:

School of International Studies, University of Utara Malaysia: ISSN:

2321-8819 (online) 2348-7186 (print) Impact Factor: 1.498 Vol.6, April,

2018.

Chidi, N. J. (2014). Kidnapping in Nigeria: An emerging social crime and the

implications for the labour market, International Journal of Humanities and Social

Science, 4 (1) 133-145.

Chidi I.L., Rose, U. Uche, A. (2015). Stemming the Incidence of Kidnapping in the

Nigerian Society: Journal of Culture and Social

Development 12(1): 28-47.

Chukuigwe, N. Albert, C.O (2015) ” Socioeconomic effects of Kidnapping on

development of Ogba/Egbema/Noni local government area of Rivers State,

Nigeria. Journal of Rural Sociology, Vol. 16(p.51-57).

Eribake A. (2016) “Nigeria Accounts 70% of Illicit weapons in W. Africa” The

Vanguard August 3th, 2016. Available on www. Vanguardnrg.com Accessed On

23rd August 2019.

Ejimabo, N.O (2013) Understanding the impact of leadership in Nigeria – Its Reality,

Challenges and Perspective, SAGE OPEN, DO1:10.1177|2158244013490704.

 

 

———- Forwarded message ———

From: lukuman tajuddeen <www.lukumantajuddeen90@gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:14

Subject: EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING ON SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA (A STUDY OF SOUTHERN KADUNA)

To: <info@opinionnigeria.com>

 

 

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.

 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

 

Kidnapping as a kind of businesslike offense is not a modern phenomenon. It is, historically, an old phenomenon traceable from ancient nations as it was discovered in 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 occurrences over time and space. According to the NYA24‟s (2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R. (2020), Asian

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 chances to develop attractive and conducive environment for both domestic investment and foreign direct investments (FDI).The world incidence of kidnapping 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 is extensively obvious in countries grappling with humanitarian crisis, particularly in most developing states in Africa. 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 militiamen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report further showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were sexually victimized by the armed militias.

In Nigeria, the issues of kidnapping have become recurrent incident making

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 communities protesting for what they described as marginalization and environmental injustice caused on them as a result of the oil exploration activities by the international companies in the area. Therefore, they deployed hostage taking of distinguished public officials and expatriates working in the international companies 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. However, the recent increased in abductions in northern part of Nigeria tends to change the narrative as it has assumed a frightening dimension thus attracting 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 minors began to assume a great magnitude and endangering socioeconomic development potentialities in the country. Consequently, by 2014 vast scale of kidnappings emerged, especially the kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in public attention. This occurrence indicated the advent of popular kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but not limited to the abductions of the former Controller- General of the Nigeria 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 happenings of kidnappings in the northern part of Nigeria as various cases leave 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 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 German Archaeologists in 2017; the kidnapping of Nigeria’s former minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the casualties of kidnapping for 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 measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.

 

STATEMENT OF the RESEARCH PROBLEM

 

The issue of kidnapping has notoriously changes Nigeria’s character as a country

internationally. It has similarly implicated Nigeria’s endeavor to establish a viable

tourism industry as foreigners are usually advised by their countries to be careful of coming to Nigeria currently, Kidnapping is assuming an alarming extent given way to unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security

terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence and reoccurrences of kidnapping have become a basis of tension, anxiety and worrisome with hundreds of people from various socioeconomic level being 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 situation resulted in displacement of persons, lack of peace and harmony as well as the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area. This security challenges in the southern Kaduna have hindered the

socio -economic development. It is from above predicament this study intends to

examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of southern 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 and its consequences on the socio  -economic development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria in general.

 

RESEARCH QUESTION

This  research shall examine the following objectives.

1. Why people indulge in kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
2. What is the extent of Kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
3. What are the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development of

southern Kaduna?

4. What are solutions to the problem of Kidnapping?

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 

1. To identify the factors responsible for kidnapping in southern Kaduna.
2. To determine the extent of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
3. To examine the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development in

Southern Kaduna.

4. To proffer solutions to the problem of Kidnapping.

 

RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

 

1. Kidnapping has negative effects on the socioeconomic development of

Southern Kaduna.

1. Kidnapping does not have negative effects on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.

 

SCOPE and LIMITATIONS OF  THE STUDY

 

This research is limited to effects of Kidnapping on Socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.

 

a . 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 data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 

1. 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 sourcing reliable data.

 

SIGNIFICANCES OF THE STUDY

 

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 Enlighten and educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of kidnapping on progress and development. It will similarly serves as a contribution to the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions and measures to be taken to tackle the problem and menace of kidnapping on socioeconomic development in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS of KEY CONCEPTS

 

1. Effect

Effect is defined as a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result influence.

1. Kidnapping

Fage and Alabi(2017,p.289)who conceived kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, 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 of seizing, confining , abducting, or carrying away a person by force or fraud often with a demand for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.

iii. Socioeconomic development

Socio- economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society. Socio – economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, safety, and levels of employment.

 

1. Development

 

According to Rodney (1972), “Development is a many-sided process implying for the individual, skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline, responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools, skills and the mobilization of required resources for development purpose”. Development simply denotes a progressive transformation from a undesirable condition to a desirable level.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals, internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content analysis for the data collected.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Literature Review

 

Conceptualization of Kidnapping

 

The concept of kidnapping is complicated to define with accuracy; this is because of the availability of different terms alike such as hostage -taking, abduction, and hijacking. In several nations, therefore these concepts are used interchangeably in which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example, in Malaysia according to the study conducted by Akpan (2010), Kidnapping of an 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 imprisoned possibly in a known area such as plane, ship, or in a building lodgings. For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without individuals is largely seen as hijacking, while in most jurisprudence or juristic interpretation, it will be termed ad theft and leaving hijacking to an unlawful seizure of both loaded truck and persons together. 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 where it is seen as the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person so as to 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,

abduction of a child to have a bargaining power especially in marital dispute.

Sometimes, kidnapping is perpetrated in order to advance a course of another crime such as human trafficking and/or slavery. Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables ranging from economic, political, religious and self-determination through coercive or fraudulent abduction of a person or group of persons. In the study of Turner’s (1998), his description of kidnapping lends support to the above conceptions where he describes it as seizing and transporting persons to a destination of unlawful 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 law website which defines kidnapping as an offence which connotes a forceful or fraudulent taking away of a person by another person without his/her consent or lawful excuse. In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping refers to a situation whereby a person or group of persons are forcibly or fraudulently 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

achieving some social, economic or political goals. This is exemplified by various 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 concept of kidnapping. Certain concepts are used alternatively to refer to acts of

kidnapping but each connotes a specific type of the act.The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1996) define kidnapping as the seizing 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 or group of persons perceived to be the reasons behind the injustice suffered by another group. However within the context of this search kidnapping is conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention of a person or persons illegally in an unknown area with aim of getting advantage or money (ransom). In a simpler terms kidnapping is an illegal act or process of 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 furtherance of another crime (New World Encyclopedia, 2018). In a broader sense, kidnapping could mean any situation of forceful disposition or 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 as follows; Kidnapping for extortion of either ransom or to influence decision making

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 criminal tendencies or political or economic reasons. Okonkwa (1980) opined that kidnapping is a broad inclusive in assault. He construed the nature of kidnapping in 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 where he is imprisoned”. From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed that there is dehumanizing tendency involved in kidnapping as it often lead to the

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 similarly reported that, kidnapping is perceived as illegitimate seizure and 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

male in to military or naval service by force or fraud. Roberton(1968) as cited in Walsh et al (1983), who perceived kidnapping as a crime of seizing, confirming abduction or carrying away of individuals by force or crime subject him or her to involuntarily servitude in an attempt to requests a ransom or furtherance of another 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

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 and held for whether ransom illegally or consensually.

 

THE OF KIDNAPPING

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 examined by many researchers. Some of these researchers encompass Turner (1998), Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),

Okoli and Agada (2014) among others.

Zannoni (2003) extensively categorised kidnapping into three (3): a) Criminal

kidnapping: This according to Zannoni (2003) is a kidnapping prompted by the quest to collect ransom from the casualty’s family, business or friends;

1. b) Political

kidnapping: this kind of kidnapping is informed by the intention to improve a political course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities plunge under this type; and

1. c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional kidnapping (Zannoni, 2003). It is a type of kidnapping where the purpose is to cause psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,

child kidnapping by separated parents among others. 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 families or business colleagues. Hence, in evolving states like Nigeria, immigrants 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

$300,000 requested for her release.

Another kind of kidnapping observed by the OSAC (2019) is tiger kidnapping or

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 guerrilla warfare. The tiger kidnapping is widespread in Asian countries.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 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 kidnappers employ several techniques or forms to commit their horrible intentions. 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

in order to deceive their unsuspecting victim. For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed express kidnappings by kidnappers standing as police officers around the country’s 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 casualties of express kidnapping are finally discharged unharmed mostly if the victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the creation of ride -share applications in various nations such as Nigeria. For example, 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

system too is being penetrated to perpetrate express kidnapping by the criminals as evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM by a criminal who posed as a rideshare driver.The fourth category of kidnapping observed by OSAC (2019) is political and 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 criminal partnerships. A multitude of happenings of this kind of kidnapping abound in

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 ideological kidnapping tends to be more pervasive in nations with extremist militant 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’ eeda which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.

OSAC (2019) observed virtual kidnapping as the fifth category of kidnapping 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 imply a condition where a bride or bridegroom is seized to an unspecified area with the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)

similarly observed this kind of abduction as a widespread habit in traditional nomadic 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

parents, even when she adores the husband. Express kidnapping is a type of kidnapping which is informed by the desire to 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 type of kidnapping as being motivated by some financial interests. Thus, express 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 victim’s 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 perpetrated by amateur kidnappers. Instances of this type of kidnapping abound in the

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 of naira, is an express kidnapping (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). 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 of using him/her to commit another crime. A situation where a bank manager is kidnapped and compelled to issue instruction to his subordinates to make an illegal transaction exemplifies tiger kidnapping. Other researchers such as Oladeinde (2017) categorized kidnapping into three: target, spontaneous and aggravated. However, in spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an undue advantage over innocent victims.

 

MOTIVES OF KIDNAPPING

 

Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following

motives:

Economic motive for kidnapping: On traditional basis, human existence is operated by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort planned to use the most profitable means to accomplish a desired motive. As a 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 get easily involved in the initial place .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 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, 2017 & Akpan 2010).

Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study (2010), where there is politically motivated kidnapping, but where necessarily ransom is demanded. It is hence examined by Nnam (2014) that, most contemporary kidnapping of prime or high-profile people, are initiated by either regime officials, unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for

kidnapping as a political vendetta for achieving political dents. In this circumstance 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 employed to resolve the political aggrieved party . Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto prevailing crimes in the country such as armed -robbery and pick- pocketing. Unemployed boys affected in indiscriminate kidnapping of any potential person, whom something could be obtained in return. Every ordinary individual including 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 following victim remained mysterious.

 

KIDNAPPING IN  NIGERIA

 

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 region.) He further observed that early kidnapping incidents in Niger Delta particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). Akpan’s findings collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta originally indulge in kidnapping to attract attention of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger encroaching people in the region.Nevertheless, kidnapping is not new a current phenomenon in Nigeria, 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 perpetrators then were commonly inferred to as ‘children snatchers or thieves’ and 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 kidnappers (child snatchers) employed charms to overwhelm the casualties or

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 sum of wealth making. The first contemporized kidnapping in Nigeria was executed by the government 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 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

manifestation of kidnapping and hostage seizing started in Niger-Delta region as a

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 notorious Islamic terrorist group Jama’ay Ahl as Sunnah lid-Da’awa wa’lJihad  popularly recognized as ‘Boko Haram ‘ (Oyewole, 2016). The problem at present mandates national emergency action, because it’s no longer a provincial problem anymore. In today’s Nigeria, Kidnapping has become a 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 STATE

 

Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky 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 abducted for ransom on daily basis.Research conducted by Mohammad (2018), disclosed that bandits abducted at least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms. According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on Tuesday January 17, 2018, at approximately 6:16pm, in Kaduna state by armed bandits. Thus, a member of lower chamber of national assembly, Garba Umar Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring of kidnapping incidence was when heavily armed kidnappers impeded the Kaduna-Abuja highway for many hours and kidnapped over 50 individuals. No 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 of lawlessness such as rubbery, bandits, cultism, burglary, ritual killings communal conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial

zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji

Muhammad Adamu kidnapping cases in Kaduna is mostly attributed with the

communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between cattle breeders and farmers.

 

PRONE AREAS OF KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA STATE 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 the passing vehicles, not realizing that they are kidnappers”.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

estates employed as hideout was located at Marafa, a new settlement along Kaduna-Abuja road, as broadcasted by Salisu Rogo of NTA. Further Vanguard 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 Jere Kateri along Kaduna Abuja.

 

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 to the federal government to announce a state of emergency on highway due to endless kidnapping of travelers of innocent citizens.

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 kidnappers. On 21st November, 2017 confirmed by (FRSC,2917), one Ardo Nijiga

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 information to security agencies in January, 2018.

 

 

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).

 

KADUNA-BIRNIN GWARI HIGHWAY

 

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. Nonetheless, from the aforementioned literatures, it is obvious that the researchers concentrated mostly on the origin, causes and implications of kidnapping on labour market in Nigeria. While other researchers studied kidnapping specifically in southern part of Nigeria as well as it effect on economic development. The implications above 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 socioeconomic development in Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

EMPERICAL 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 sample of 10 victims of kidnapping and 5 security personnel was drawn through purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty, moral decadence, widespread of unemployment, as well as payment of ransom to the 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 kidnappers, poverty alleviation,, job creation are recommended to address to problem

of kidnapping in Kaduna state

Chukuigwe, N.; Albert, C.O (2015) investigated the socio-economic

consequences of kidnapping on the development of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He employed a multistage sampling technique 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 forsupremacy (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 socio-economic indices such as: Psychological/emotional trauma (x̅ =2.61), indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),financial loss through payment of ransom / protection and forceful closure of businesses (x̅=2.35), amongst others. Inadequate/ill equipped anti-kidnapping squad (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 government, communities and other stakeholders for value reorientation. Davidson (2010) also studied the implications of kidnapping on labor market in 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

federal government‟s contemporary achievements in wooing investors into 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 Nigerian economy might be waiting for to move into complete recession. He 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 are not spared.” The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen states in Nigeria he examines causes of kidnapping and its implications on the 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

revealed that recent kidnapping in Nigeria is accelerated by resource management conflicts focused both at oil expatriate employees and at prominent citizens, 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 study concludes that kidnapping is coming to be a severe offense in Nigeria with serious negative implications for foreign investment, national foreign exchange revenue, and wealth generation.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 effects of Kidnapping on socio-economic development of Southern Kaduna has

necessitated the coming in of this research to fill in vivid gap.

 

 

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

This study adopted Structural-functionalist theory as a tool for analysis.Structural-Functionalism, in sociology and other social sciences, is a school of 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 incessant existence of the others and of society as an entirety. In structural functionalism, social change is regarded as an adaptive reaction to some uncertainty

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 degree to which given activities enhance or interface with the maintenance of a 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), who overwhelmed American social theory in the 1950s and 1960s. The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex components that are interrelated and interdependent in which each component performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organismfails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies 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 envisioned society as an organism made up of components that function harmoniously 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

pass from generation to generation.

 

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, harmony, peace, progress, and order. The theory further stressed that if one part or institution isdysfunctional (may be

the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will leads to the emergence of social problems and anti-society activities (such as kidnapping, violence, conflict etc) in the society.

 

 

CENTRAL IDEA OF  FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

The primary concern of structural functionalism is a consequence of the Durkheim’s 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

institutions) working concurrently in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward 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

status.

 

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF  STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which

different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to the

maintenance of whole system.

2. Functionalism generally assumes that institutions perform beneficial functions

(they do good things) for the individuals and society.

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 parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function

neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will

not be passed on from one generation to the subsequent (Schaefer, 2002)

 

APPLICABILITY OF  THE  THEORY

When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria and its implication on the socioeconomic development; structural functionalism 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 dysfunction within the system results in great degree of poverty, unemployment, denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate

of which kidnapping is at the lead.

The socioeconomic condition in Southern Kaduna is ignored and there is no significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such as security, hospitals, employment, good roads and communication networks which

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 productive and functional to its perpetrators. The lucrative character of kidnapping

makes it very desirable. Kidnapping as perceived in some parts of Nigeria and especially in Southern Kaduna is recognized as a dysfunctional or the fault of the governments of all levels

to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security of the people in the southern Kaduna. According to the advocates of theory, if an 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 woefully failing because according to previous studies kidnapping is accompanied by a communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

 

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 problems within society emanates from the failure of an organization to function as

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 it was established for.

 

CRITICISM

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”).

 

Another criticism directed at functionalism is that it encompasses no sense of agency, that individuals are seen as tools, working as their role expects. The most complicated forms of functionalism are founded on “a highly developed concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the individual and their actions.

 

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 which social institutions fulfill those necessities.

 

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. Anthony Giddens argues that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences. 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

important for explaining the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND

KIDNAPPING AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN

KADUNA STATE

 

BiOGRAPHT AND LOCATION OF  THE STUDY AREA

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

it in the state creation exercise of 1987. Its capital is Kaduna. Kaduna state is found at the centre of Northern Nigeria. It has a political 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

Nassarawa state to the south. Kaduna State occupies 46,053 square kilometres(National population commission of Nigeria III, 2006).

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. Kaduna State . 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

 

ECONOMY OF KADUNA STATE

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 relative benefit in as it is the dominating producer in the nation. Additional important 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, kyanite, gold, graphite and sillimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural substance utilized in the industry of pencils, crucibles, electrodes, generator brushes and other sundry components. Kaduna state is an urban as well as a cultured/cosmopolitan industrialized state with over 80 commercial and manufacturing industries. Goods varying from carpets, textiles, reinforced tangible materials, bicycles 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, New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United

Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refrigerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company Limited, Electricity Metres Company Nigeria Limited and Rigid Pack Containers Limited, Zaria among others(“Encyclopedia 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

contemporary parks and gardens (KRPC, 2019).

 

SOUTHERN KADUNA

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 districts of the state. Southern Kaduna is multi- ethnic and pre dominantly occupied by largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem, Kagoma,Kaningkon, Kagoro, Fanstwan, Numana, Mada, Moroa, Attakar, Ayu, Kataf,

Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on. The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern Kaduna senatorial zones and these are predominantly occupied by Hausa-Fulani 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 governments of Southern Kaduna put together have a population of 1,792,169, i.e., 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 people southern Kaduna is predominantly agriculture and small businesses scales.

 

 

KIDNAPPING AND  SOCIO -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND NIGERIA AT LARGE

 

A study conducted by Badamasi S. Et al, (2018) their study revealed that

kidnapping has serious effects on development of Nigeria that kidnapping in Kaduna 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 occurrences of the incidence, traveler‟s advisory is being issued by nations to their citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state. This will therefore, have an adverse effect on economic possible development of 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

when it comes to issue of security.

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

conditions of the Nigerian economy, unemployment and weak citizen-security ratio 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 billion naira on security alone (Sahara reporters, 2017).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

external fittings, presenting their economic incapacity in effort to avoid becoming casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders 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

people, with some rarely respond to friendly greetings to uncommon individuals.

 

The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same

developing nations such as Malaysia is not possible due to low technology

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

 

ISSUE OF f KIDNAPPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN KADUNA.

 

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 motivatingcircumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factorsinspiring kidnapping as a destructive crime in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating factors relatively endless. Commonly, investigators are sharp to question socioeconomic, political and religious factors as drivers of kidnapping in Nigeria (Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).

 

One remarkable correspondence in all the researches on the drivers of kidnapping isthe agreement that the phenomenon opposes mono-causal justifications as it ispropelled by so several influences. Below are some of the causes of kidnapping;

 

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 research conducted by Adegoke (2015) found unemployment by a ledge of 88% as the 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 and hampered unemployed teenagers frequently use to immoral actions as a means of survival (Inyang, 2009).

 

In same vein, Ejimabo (2013) characterized the happening of pervasive

unemployment among the youths as an obstacle to the management and deterence of 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 financial means to compensate them. Substantiating this perspective, Thom-Otuya (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 implications for national advancement. Looking at the consequences of unemployment on crime causation from psychological standpoint, Inyang (2009) emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their delinquency to secure the employment to the community. Joblessness as the 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,both unemployed for years (Ugwuoke, 2011).

 

2. Poverty

Researchers associate the mushrooming of kidnapping in Nigeria to endemic poverty in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximumcrude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as thebiggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in theglobe (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 aForeign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and Economic Information Centre, CEIC, 2019).However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as thecenter 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 sixNigerians 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 many researchers found positive correlation between poverty and kidnapping in Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor

associated with bad governance characterized by corrupt practices verge to develop weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived sense of economic denial. Thom-Otuya (2010) alleged that majority of Nigerians suffer from scarcity of essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.Therefore, according to him, poverty is an ingredient encouraging lawlessness not

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 defined by pervasive poverty and social mistreatment.

 

3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern

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. This is exceptionally accurate because kidnapping in southern Kaduna differed as it has a nexus with communal crisis.

 

4. Greediness and Moral Decadence

Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome havebeen recognized as circumstances stimulating kidnapping (Ogbuehi, 2018; Inyang andUbong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get richsyndrome, 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 criminality so as to make wealth overnight.

 

This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite

when an individual that is known to be poor today, according to Inyang (2009),

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 that selfishness and rapaciousness is an important aspect predisposing kidnappers to brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.

 

5. Drugs and Proliferation of arms

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 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 those under the effect of hard drugs.

 

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 the competent of law enforcement mechanisms. The kidnappers accessed weapons

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.

 

6 .Nature of Nigerian politics

 

Nevertheless, Inyang (2009) associated the mushrooming of abducting to the nature ofpolitics 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. 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, academics such as Ogabido (2009), Nworah (2009), Arewa (2013), Thom-Otuya (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 herdsmen in some northern states in Nigeria. However, causes of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem with slight difference in that kidnapping is in Southern Kaduna is embedded to the situation of insecurities and conflicts among the communities of the area.

 

7 .Ritual and Spiritual Proclivity

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

motive of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice purpose to obtain ritual wealth,

favour, prestige, achievement, power and protection. several politicians seek

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 forms of missiles to safeguard themselves against assassination and all that distinguishes the current political geography. According to Jegede CO (2014)

 

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 component for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

 

THE EXTENT OF KIDNAPPING  IN KADUNA AND  IT’S SOUTHERN PART

 

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 of more than 50,000 people. 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 Boko Haram insurgency. The findings of Ayuba, M. R, (2020) indicates that 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 of the participants corroborates the statement of the Nigerian Acting Inspector 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 where 365 people were abducted in the first quarter of 2019.

 

SOCIO – ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING  IN  SOUTHERN KADUNA AND  AT LARGE

 

Nigeria The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic, social, physical, medical, political, international, psychological/emotional, and moral

effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed which was one of the goal of this research.

 

.1 Economic Effect

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 to kidnappers, while the indirect economic cost of abducting include payments on

preventive measures, such as the employment of personal security personnel.At the governmental status, the economic impacts of kidnapping encompass the 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.

Similarly, Nigeria relinquishes substantial amount of earnings when immigrants

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 usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of

Kidnappers.

In many examples, it is frequently the bread winners of households that are

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 large could be deprived of development coalitions and opportunities (Akpan 2010). It

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).

 

The casualties work- place will similarly be implicated adversely. If the fatality

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.

 

2. Social Effect of Kidnapping

The danger of kidnapping has facilitated a sense of insecurity in Nigeria. Kidnapping 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. 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

kidnappers. People are coerced to present an unfinished look of poverty by not painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or use new motor vehicles for the uncertainty of kidnappers.

In respects to inter-personal connection, kidnapping has also provided to a

reasonably elevated status of distrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) “an innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually employ colleagues, families, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. To solicit relevance information which can be used to kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social nteraction among partners of the neighborhoods in southern Kaduna.

 

The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of turmoil targeting farming districts in southern Kaduna, which has been

ongoing ,which is characterized by murder, killing, looting, rape, coerced

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 kidnappers are usually targeting schools and places of worship. The farmers of Southern Kaduna are no longer comfortable in their farmlands, they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvested  and this circumstance created poverty, starvation and other social vices. Most devastating, it 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 highway crime management.

 

Summarily, Kidnapping constitutes a veritable menace to Nigeria’s endurable

development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public

safety, it sabotages economic growth and advancement by way of capital and

investment flight, It results in negative understanding of Nigeria on multinational event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it creates an environment of public insecurity, thereby threatening

the possibilities of societal improvement it has frequently led to loss of investment capital, closure of enterprises, and unemployment etc. In effect, the increasing 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 image at global arena, increase in unemployment ratio, danger of an apparent descent to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels, housings, etc. (2008: para 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLUTIONS  TO THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

 

According to previous researches conducted by Turner (1998), Akpan (2010),Iyang and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna

and Nigeria.

 

1. Training Anti- Kidnapping Agents

Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are vigorously involved, the incidence of this scandal can be diminished.

 

1. Strengthen the Security Agencies

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. Seriously Punishments for Offenders 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.

 

1. Job Creation

Creating employment for nationals, particularly for the youth, can have an

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On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:14 lukuman tajuddeen, <www.lukumantajuddeen90@gmail.com> wrote:

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.

 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

 

Kidnapping as a kind of businesslike offense is not a modern phenomenon. It is, historically, an old phenomenon traceable from ancient nations as it was discovered in 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 occurrences over time and space. According to the NYA24‟s (2018) as cited in Ayuba, M. R. (2020), Asian

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 chances to develop attractive and conducive environment for both domestic investment and foreign direct investments (FDI).The world incidence of kidnapping 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 is extensively obvious in countries grappling with humanitarian crisis, particularly in most developing states in Africa. 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 militiamen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report further showed that, in April and May of that the same year alone, 267 women and girls were sexually victimized by the armed militias.

In Nigeria, the issues of kidnapping have become recurrent incident making

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 communities protesting for what they described as marginalization and environmental injustice caused on them as a result of the oil exploration activities by the international companies in the area. Therefore, they deployed hostage taking of distinguished public officials and expatriates working in the international companies 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. However, the recent increased in abductions in northern part of Nigeria tends to change the narrative as it has assumed a frightening dimension thus attracting 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 minors began to assume a great magnitude and endangering socioeconomic development potentialities in the country. Consequently, by 2014 vast scale of kidnappings emerged, especially the kidnapping of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria which drew in public attention. This occurrence indicated the advent of popular kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and since then numerous other kidnapping cases which include but not limited to the abductions of the former Controller- General of the Nigeria 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 happenings of kidnappings in the northern part of Nigeria as various cases leave 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 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 German Archaeologists in 2017; the kidnapping of Nigeria’s former minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bagudu are just few cases on point. It is relatively difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the casualties of kidnapping for 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 measures and actions being adopted by the local, state and federal government.

 

STATEMENT OF the RESEARCH PROBLEM

 

The issue of kidnapping has notoriously changes Nigeria’s character as a country

internationally. It has similarly implicated Nigeria’s endeavor to establish a viable

tourism industry as foreigners are usually advised by their countries to be careful of coming to Nigeria currently, Kidnapping is assuming an alarming extent given way to unfavorable situation, loss of lives, money, risky atmosphere, and make security

terrible in Kaduna state particularly Southern parts of Kaduna state. The emergence and reoccurrences of kidnapping have become a basis of tension, anxiety and worrisome with hundreds of people from various socioeconomic level being 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 situation resulted in displacement of persons, lack of peace and harmony as well as the tensions for both local and foreign investors to invest in the area. This security challenges in the southern Kaduna have hindered the

socio -economic development. It is from above predicament this study intends to

examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic development of southern 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 and its consequences on the socio  -economic development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria in general.

 

RESEARCH QUESTION

This  research shall examine the following objectives.

1. Why people indulge in kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
2. What is the extent of Kidnapping in southern Kaduna?
3. What are the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development of

southern Kaduna?

4. What are solutions to the problem of Kidnapping?

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 

1. To identify the factors responsible for kidnapping in southern Kaduna.
2. To determine the extent of Kidnapping in Southern Kaduna
3. To examine the effects of Kidnapping on socio -economic development in

Southern Kaduna.

4. To proffer solutions to the problem of Kidnapping.

 

RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

 

1. Kidnapping has negative effects on the socioeconomic development of

Southern Kaduna.

1. Kidnapping does not have negative effects on socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna.

 

SCOPE and LIMITATIONS OF  THE STUDY

 

This research is limited to effects of Kidnapping on Socioeconomic development of Southern Kaduna and the research covers the period of 2016 to 2019.

 

a . 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 data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 

1. 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 sourcing reliable data.

 

SIGNIFICANCES OF THE STUDY

 

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 Enlighten and educate the public especially the residents of southern Kaduna about consequences of kidnapping on progress and development. It will similarly serves as a contribution to the existing literatures. The research work is equally important to policymakers and government agencies because it will recommends and suggests the possible solutions and measures to be taken to tackle the problem and menace of kidnapping on socioeconomic development in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS of KEY CONCEPTS

 

1. Effect

Effect is defined as a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result influence.

1. Kidnapping

Fage and Alabi(2017,p.289)who conceived kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, 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 of seizing, confining , abducting, or carrying away a person by force or fraud often with a demand for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.

iii. Socioeconomic development

Socio- economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society. Socio – economic development is measured with indicators, such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, safety, and levels of employment.

 

1. Development

 

According to Rodney (1972), “Development is a many-sided process implying for the individual, skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline, responsibility and material well-being. The process involves the development of tools, skills and the mobilization of required resources for development purpose”. Development simply denotes a progressive transformation from a undesirable condition to a desirable level.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

This research extensively used secondary sources of data only such as journals, internet, textbooks, newspapers, magazines. The research will make use of content analysis for the data collected.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Literature Review

 

Conceptualization of Kidnapping

 

The concept of kidnapping is complicated to define with accuracy; this is because of the availability of different terms alike such as hostage -taking, abduction, and hijacking. In several nations, therefore these concepts are used interchangeably in which some communities; there is divergence in meaning and practice. For example, in Malaysia according to the study conducted by Akpan (2010), Kidnapping of an 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 imprisoned possibly in a known area such as plane, ship, or in a building lodgings. For instance, the hold up (seizure) of a loaded truck or container alone without individuals is largely seen as hijacking, while in most jurisprudence or juristic interpretation, it will be termed ad theft and leaving hijacking to an unlawful seizure of both loaded truck and persons together. 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 where it is seen as the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person so as to 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,

abduction of a child to have a bargaining power especially in marital dispute.

Sometimes, kidnapping is perpetrated in order to advance a course of another crime such as human trafficking and/or slavery. Similarly, Fage and Alabi (2017) see kidnapping as a product of some variables ranging from economic, political, religious and self-determination through coercive or fraudulent abduction of a person or group of persons. In the study of Turner’s (1998), his description of kidnapping lends support to the above conceptions where he describes it as seizing and transporting persons to a destination of unlawful 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 law website which defines kidnapping as an offence which connotes a forceful or fraudulent taking away of a person by another person without his/her consent or lawful excuse. In similar vein, Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014) asserted that, kidnapping refers to a situation whereby a person or group of persons are forcibly or fraudulently 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

achieving some social, economic or political goals. This is exemplified by various 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 concept of kidnapping. Certain concepts are used alternatively to refer to acts of

kidnapping but each connotes a specific type of the act.The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1996) define kidnapping as the seizing 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 or group of persons perceived to be the reasons behind the injustice suffered by another group. However within the context of this search kidnapping is conceptualized as the crime which has to do with forceful taking away and detention of a person or persons illegally in an unknown area with aim of getting advantage or money (ransom). In a simpler terms kidnapping is an illegal act or process of 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 furtherance of another crime (New World Encyclopedia, 2018). In a broader sense, kidnapping could mean any situation of forceful disposition or 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 as follows; Kidnapping for extortion of either ransom or to influence decision making

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 criminal tendencies or political or economic reasons. Okonkwa (1980) opined that kidnapping is a broad inclusive in assault. He construed the nature of kidnapping in 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 where he is imprisoned”. From the above definition of Okonkwa one may observe as Ugwu (2010) avowed that there is dehumanizing tendency involved in kidnapping as it often lead to the

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 similarly reported that, kidnapping is perceived as illegitimate seizure and 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

male in to military or naval service by force or fraud. Roberton(1968) as cited in Walsh et al (1983), who perceived kidnapping as a crime of seizing, confirming abduction or carrying away of individuals by force or crime subject him or her to involuntarily servitude in an attempt to requests a ransom or furtherance of another 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

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 and held for whether ransom illegally or consensually.

 

THE OF KIDNAPPING

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 examined by many researchers. Some of these researchers encompass Turner (1998), Pharaoh (2005), Mohammed (2008), Eze and Ezeibe (2012), Ottuh and Aitufe (2014),

Okoli and Agada (2014) among others.

Zannoni (2003) extensively categorised kidnapping into three (3): a) Criminal

kidnapping: This according to Zannoni (2003) is a kidnapping prompted by the quest to collect ransom from the casualty’s family, business or friends;

1. b) Political

kidnapping: this kind of kidnapping is informed by the intention to improve a political course often through the use of complicated weapons. Militant and terrorist activities plunge under this type; and

1. c) Pathological kidnapping: also known as emotional kidnapping (Zannoni, 2003). It is a type of kidnapping where the purpose is to cause psychological injuries on the victim. Examples of this type may include torture, rape,

child kidnapping by separated parents among others. 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 families or business colleagues. Hence, in evolving states like Nigeria, immigrants 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

$300,000 requested for her release.

Another kind of kidnapping observed by the OSAC (2019) is tiger kidnapping or

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 guerrilla warfare. The tiger kidnapping is widespread in Asian countries.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 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 kidnappers employ several techniques or forms to commit their horrible intentions. 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

in order to deceive their unsuspecting victim. For example, the Crimes and Safety Report for South Africa in 2016 noticed express kidnappings by kidnappers standing as police officers around the country’s 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 casualties of express kidnapping are finally discharged unharmed mostly if the victims collaborated well with his/her captors. This kind of abduction has led to the creation of ride -share applications in various nations such as Nigeria. For example, 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

system too is being penetrated to perpetrate express kidnapping by the criminals as evidently shown in South Africa in 2017 when a tandem was assaulted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM by a criminal who posed as a rideshare driver.The fourth category of kidnapping observed by OSAC (2019) is political and 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 criminal partnerships. A multitude of happenings of this kind of kidnapping abound in

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 ideological kidnapping tends to be more pervasive in nations with extremist militant 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’ eeda which has abducted multiple prominent people and requested an exchange of its detained members as a condition for the discharge of the casualties.

OSAC (2019) observed virtual kidnapping as the fifth category of kidnapping 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 imply a condition where a bride or bridegroom is seized to an unspecified area with the goal to wed without the permission of his/her parents. Ottuh and Aitufe (2014)

similarly observed this kind of abduction as a widespread habit in traditional nomadic 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

parents, even when she adores the husband. Express kidnapping is a type of kidnapping which is informed by the desire to 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 type of kidnapping as being motivated by some financial interests. Thus, express 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 victim’s 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 perpetrated by amateur kidnappers. Instances of this type of kidnapping abound in the

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 of naira, is an express kidnapping (Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014). 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 of using him/her to commit another crime. A situation where a bank manager is kidnapped and compelled to issue instruction to his subordinates to make an illegal transaction exemplifies tiger kidnapping. Other researchers such as Oladeinde (2017) categorized kidnapping into three: target, spontaneous and aggravated. However, in spite of the preponderance of the types of kidnapping, they all target at taking an undue advantage over innocent victims.

 

MOTIVES OF KIDNAPPING

 

Thus, the frequent occurrences of the incidence might be attributed to the following

motives:

Economic motive for kidnapping: On traditional basis, human existence is operated by the forces of demand and supply, in this respect thus, kidnapping is a social effort planned to use the most profitable means to accomplish a desired motive. As a 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 get easily involved in the initial place .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 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, 2017 & Akpan 2010).

Political motive for kidnapping: In the statements of Turner (1998) in Akpan study (2010), where there is politically motivated kidnapping, but where necessarily ransom is demanded. It is hence examined by Nnam (2014) that, most contemporary kidnapping of prime or high-profile people, are initiated by either regime officials, unrewarded individuals out of government or by political rivals who will opt for

kidnapping as a political vendetta for achieving political dents. In this circumstance 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 employed to resolve the political aggrieved party . Kidnapping as a new Habitual crime Kidnapping has now dominated the hitherto prevailing crimes in the country such as armed -robbery and pick- pocketing. Unemployed boys affected in indiscriminate kidnapping of any potential person, whom something could be obtained in return. Every ordinary individual including 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 following victim remained mysterious.

 

KIDNAPPING IN  NIGERIA

 

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 region.) He further observed that early kidnapping incidents in Niger Delta particularly Rivers State are believed to be part of the of wider liberation call by the Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). Akpan’s findings collaborated with Ishaya (2010) who broadcasted in media that the movements for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta originally indulge in kidnapping to attract attention of federal government and international companies about the hardship and danger encroaching people in the region.Nevertheless, kidnapping is not new a current phenomenon in Nigeria, 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 perpetrators then were commonly inferred to as ‘children snatchers or thieves’ and 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 kidnappers (child snatchers) employed charms to overwhelm the casualties or

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 sum of wealth making. The first contemporized kidnapping in Nigeria was executed by the government 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 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

manifestation of kidnapping and hostage seizing started in Niger-Delta region as a

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 notorious Islamic terrorist group Jama’ay Ahl as Sunnah lid-Da’awa wa’lJihad  popularly recognized as ‘Boko Haram ‘ (Oyewole, 2016). The problem at present mandates national emergency action, because it’s no longer a provincial problem anymore. In today’s Nigeria, Kidnapping has become a 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 STATE

 

Kidnapping in Kaduna is taking a severe extent giving way for tension and risky 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 abducted for ransom on daily basis.Research conducted by Mohammad (2018), disclosed that bandits abducted at least 100 people along Birnin Gwari Kaduna road and charged 5million ransoms. According to Agande (2018), two Americans and two Canadians were abducted on Tuesday January 17, 2018, at approximately 6:16pm, in Kaduna state by armed bandits. Thus, a member of lower chamber of national assembly, Garba Umar Durbunde was kidnaped at about 1:48pm on May 31st,2017, at Jere. The most daring of kidnapping incidence was when heavily armed kidnappers impeded the Kaduna-Abuja highway for many hours and kidnapped over 50 individuals. No 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 of lawlessness such as rubbery, bandits, cultism, burglary, ritual killings communal conflicts between herdsmen and the farmers particularly in the southern senatorial

zone of Kaduna state. According to the Acting inspector General of police Alhaji

Muhammad Adamu kidnapping cases in Kaduna is mostly attributed with the

communal violence and banditry that is chronic in the villages of the area between cattle breeders and farmers.

 

PRONE AREAS OF KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA STATE 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 the passing vehicles, not realizing that they are kidnappers”.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

estates employed as hideout was located at Marafa, a new settlement along Kaduna-Abuja road, as broadcasted by Salisu Rogo of NTA. Further Vanguard 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 Jere Kateri along Kaduna Abuja.

 

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 to the federal government to announce a state of emergency on highway due to endless kidnapping of travelers of innocent citizens.

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 kidnappers. On 21st November, 2017 confirmed by (FRSC,2917), one Ardo Nijiga

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 information to security agencies in January, 2018.

 

 

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).

 

KADUNA-BIRNIN GWARI HIGHWAY

 

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. Nonetheless, from the aforementioned literatures, it is obvious that the researchers concentrated mostly on the origin, causes and implications of kidnapping on labour market in Nigeria. While other researchers studied kidnapping specifically in southern part of Nigeria as well as it effect on economic development. The implications above 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 socioeconomic development in Southern Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

 

EMPERICAL 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 sample of 10 victims of kidnapping and 5 security personnel was drawn through purposive sampling technique. The findings of his research revealed that poverty, moral decadence, widespread of unemployment, as well as payment of ransom to the 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 kidnappers, poverty alleviation,, job creation are recommended to address to problem

of kidnapping in Kaduna state

Chukuigwe, N.; Albert, C.O (2015) investigated the socio-economic

consequences of kidnapping on the development of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He employed a multistage sampling technique 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 forsupremacy (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 socio-economic indices such as: Psychological/emotional trauma (x̅ =2.61), indebtedness of the victims‟ family, unexpected relocation of people (x̅ =2.46),financial loss through payment of ransom / protection and forceful closure of businesses (x̅=2.35), amongst others. Inadequate/ill equipped anti-kidnapping squad (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 government, communities and other stakeholders for value reorientation. Davidson (2010) also studied the implications of kidnapping on labor market in 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

federal government‟s contemporary achievements in wooing investors into 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 Nigerian economy might be waiting for to move into complete recession. He 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 are not spared.” The study of Badiora (2015) Using crime review figures four randomly chosen states in Nigeria he examines causes of kidnapping and its implications on the 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

revealed that recent kidnapping in Nigeria is accelerated by resource management conflicts focused both at oil expatriate employees and at prominent citizens, 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 study concludes that kidnapping is coming to be a severe offense in Nigeria with serious negative implications for foreign investment, national foreign exchange revenue, and wealth generation.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 effects of Kidnapping on socio-economic development of Southern Kaduna has

necessitated the coming in of this research to fill in vivid gap.

 

 

THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

This study adopted Structural-functionalist theory as a tool for analysis.Structural-Functionalism, in sociology and other social sciences, is a school of 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 incessant existence of the others and of society as an entirety. In structural functionalism, social change is regarded as an adaptive reaction to some uncertainty

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 degree to which given activities enhance or interface with the maintenance of a 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), who overwhelmed American social theory in the 1950s and 1960s. The theorist posit that society is like a living organism comprised of complex components that are interrelated and interdependent in which each component performs a crucial role for the survival of the organism and if one part of the organismfails to perform its function, it will affect the whole organism, the same thing applies 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 envisioned society as an organism made up of components that function harmoniously 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

pass from generation to generation.

 

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, harmony, peace, progress, and order. The theory further stressed that if one part or institution isdysfunctional (may be

the economy), it certainly affects the workability of other components and this will leads to the emergence of social problems and anti-society activities (such as kidnapping, violence, conflict etc) in the society.

 

 

CENTRAL IDEA OF  FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

The primary concern of structural functionalism is a consequence of the Durkheim’s 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

institutions) working concurrently in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward 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

status.

 

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF  STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY

 

1. The theory assumes that a successful society has a stable structure in which

different institutions perform unique functions that contribute to the

maintenance of whole system.

2. Functionalism generally assumes that institutions perform beneficial functions

(they do good things) for the individuals and society.

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 parts ceases to function to contribute to identifiable advantageous function

neither does it promote values, peace among members of the society, it will

not be passed on from one generation to the subsequent (Schaefer, 2002)

 

APPLICABILITY OF  THE  THEORY

When relating the theory to understand the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria and its implication on the socioeconomic development; structural functionalism 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 dysfunction within the system results in great degree of poverty, unemployment, denial as well as marginalization. The consequence is pictured in the high crimes rate

of which kidnapping is at the lead.

The socioeconomic condition in Southern Kaduna is ignored and there is no significant action from the governments to provide infrastructures and services such as security, hospitals, employment, good roads and communication networks which

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 productive and functional to its perpetrators. The lucrative character of kidnapping

makes it very desirable. Kidnapping as perceived in some parts of Nigeria and especially in Southern Kaduna is recognized as a dysfunctional or the fault of the governments of all levels

to perform its basic functions such as guaranteeing protection, integrity, and security of the people in the southern Kaduna. According to the advocates of theory, if an 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 woefully failing because according to previous studies kidnapping is accompanied by a communal crisis between the herdsmen and the farmers.

 

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 problems within society emanates from the failure of an organization to function as

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 it was established for.

 

CRITICISM

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”).

 

Another criticism directed at functionalism is that it encompasses no sense of agency, that individuals are seen as tools, working as their role expects. The most complicated forms of functionalism are founded on “a highly developed concept of action” and as was explained above, Parsons took as his starting point the individual and their actions.

 

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 which social institutions fulfill those necessities.

 

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. Anthony Giddens argues that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences. 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

important for explaining the social problem of kidnapping in Nigeria.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND

KIDNAPPING AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN

KADUNA STATE

 

BiOGRAPHT AND LOCATION OF  THE STUDY AREA

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

it in the state creation exercise of 1987. Its capital is Kaduna. Kaduna state is found at the centre of Northern Nigeria. It has a political 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

Nassarawa state to the south. Kaduna State occupies 46,053 square kilometres(National population commission of Nigeria III, 2006).

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. Kaduna State . 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

 

ECONOMY OF KADUNA STATE

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 relative benefit in as it is the dominating producer in the nation. Additional important 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, kyanite, gold, graphite and sillimanite graphite, which is base in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is a significant natural substance utilized in the industry of pencils, crucibles, electrodes, generator brushes and other sundry components. Kaduna state is an urban as well as a cultured/cosmopolitan industrialized state with over 80 commercial and manufacturing industries. Goods varying from carpets, textiles, reinforced tangible materials, bicycles 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, New Nigerian Packaging Company PLC, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PLC, United

Wire Products Limited, Bus and Refrigerated Van Manufacturing Co, Kaduna Furniture and Carpets Company Limited, Electricity Metres Company Nigeria Limited and Rigid Pack Containers Limited, Zaria among others(“Encyclopedia 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

contemporary parks and gardens (KRPC, 2019).

 

SOUTHERN KADUNA

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 districts of the state. Southern Kaduna is multi- ethnic and pre dominantly occupied by largely non-Muslim ethnic groups: Jaba, Ninzom, Atyap, Nindem, Kagoma,Kaningkon, Kagoro, Fanstwan, Numana, Mada, Moroa, Attakar, Ayu, Kataf,

Baju, Sanga, Numbu, Dagam, Kibo, Karshi., Ningwam, Gwandara, Yeskwa and so on. The remaining fifteen local government areas constitute central and northern Kaduna senatorial zones and these are predominantly occupied by Hausa-Fulani 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 governments of Southern Kaduna put together have a population of 1,792,169, i.e., 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 people southern Kaduna is predominantly agriculture and small businesses scales.

 

 

KIDNAPPING AND  SOCIO -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF SOUTHERN KADUNA AND NIGERIA AT LARGE

 

A study conducted by Badamasi S. Et al, (2018) their study revealed that

kidnapping has serious effects on development of Nigeria that kidnapping in Kaduna 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 occurrences of the incidence, traveler‟s advisory is being issued by nations to their citizens discouraging them not to travel to some unstable regions in Nigeria including Kaduna, due to upsurge abducting in the state. This will therefore, have an adverse effect on economic possible development of 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

when it comes to issue of security.

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

conditions of the Nigerian economy, unemployment and weak citizen-security ratio 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 billion naira on security alone (Sahara reporters, 2017).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

external fittings, presenting their economic incapacity in effort to avoid becoming casualty of kidnapping. Those with expensive cars, resort to using commercial riders 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

people, with some rarely respond to friendly greetings to uncommon individuals.

 

The use of GPS machine for directory to unfamiliar areas as obtained in same

developing nations such as Malaysia is not possible due to low technology

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

 

ISSUE OF f KIDNAPPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN KADUNA.

 

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 motivatingcircumstances for kidnapping. Various studies have been conducted on the factorsinspiring kidnapping as a destructive crime in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the happening and the new extents it carries makes its motivating factors relatively endless. Commonly, investigators are sharp to question socioeconomic, political and religious factors as drivers of kidnapping in Nigeria (Zannoni, 2003; Ottuh and Aitufe, 2014; Ibrahim and Mukhtar, 2017, Ogbuehi, 2018).

 

One remarkable correspondence in all the researches on the drivers of kidnapping isthe agreement that the phenomenon opposes mono-causal justifications as it ispropelled by so several influences. Below are some of the causes of kidnapping;

 

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 research conducted by Adegoke (2015) found unemployment by a ledge of 88% as the 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 and hampered unemployed teenagers frequently use to immoral actions as a means of survival (Inyang, 2009).

 

In same vein, Ejimabo (2013) characterized the happening of pervasive

unemployment among the youths as an obstacle to the management and deterence of 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 financial means to compensate them. Substantiating this perspective, Thom-Otuya (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 implications for national advancement. Looking at the consequences of unemployment on crime causation from psychological standpoint, Inyang (2009) emphasized that graduates who could not obtain employment after graduation generate adverse behaviors toward the nation and the system and indicate their delinquency to secure the employment to the community. Joblessness as the 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,both unemployed for years (Ugwuoke, 2011).

 

2. Poverty

Researchers associate the mushrooming of kidnapping in Nigeria to endemic poverty in the country (Thom-Otuya, 2010; Inyang 2009; Ogbuehi, 2018). With a maximumcrude oil generation quantity of 2.5 million containers per day, Nigeria indexes as thebiggest oil manufacturing state in Africa and the sixth biggest oil producer in theglobe (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 aForeign Exchange Reserves of 41.9 billion US dollars in September 2019 (Census and Economic Information Centre, CEIC, 2019).However, the World Poverty Clock as at June 2018 disclosed Nigeria as thecenter 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 sixNigerians 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 many researchers found positive correlation between poverty and kidnapping in Nigeria. Therefore, the ever-widening extent between the wealthy and the poor

associated with bad governance characterized by corrupt practices verge to develop weaken and hopeless propensities in the teenagers due to their actual or perceived sense of economic denial. Thom-Otuya (2010) alleged that majority of Nigerians suffer from scarcity of essential amenities vital for social progress, increased unemployment rate, communal unrest and abject poverty epitomized in the evolving hovels in nearly all the cities.Therefore, according to him, poverty is an ingredient encouraging lawlessness not

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 defined by pervasive poverty and social mistreatment.

 

3. Communal Conflict between the Herders and Farmers of Southern

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. This is exceptionally accurate because kidnapping in southern Kaduna differed as it has a nexus with communal crisis.

 

4. Greediness and Moral Decadence

Selfishness, ethical decadence and the quest to reap wealthy quick syndrome havebeen recognized as circumstances stimulating kidnapping (Ogbuehi, 2018; Inyang andUbong, 2013; Inyang, 2009; Nnamani, 2015). Depicting the youth quest to get richsyndrome, 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 criminality so as to make wealth overnight.

 

This is more worrisome considering the fact that the society seems to be quite

when an individual that is known to be poor today, according to Inyang (2009),

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 that selfishness and rapaciousness is an important aspect predisposing kidnappers to brutalizing and dehumanizing their fellow humans in the quest for sharp wealth.

 

5. Drugs and Proliferation of arms

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 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 those under the effect of hard drugs.

 

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 the competent of law enforcement mechanisms. The kidnappers accessed weapons

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.

 

6 .Nature of Nigerian politics

 

Nevertheless, Inyang (2009) associated the mushrooming of abducting to the nature ofpolitics 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. 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, academics such as Ogabido (2009), Nworah (2009), Arewa (2013), Thom-Otuya (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 herdsmen in some northern states in Nigeria. However, causes of Kidnapping in Kaduna and its Southern parts are in the same vein with causes of the social problem with slight difference in that kidnapping is in Southern Kaduna is embedded to the situation of insecurities and conflicts among the communities of the area.

 

7 .Ritual and Spiritual Proclivity

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

motive of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice purpose to obtain ritual wealth,

favour, prestige, achievement, power and protection. several politicians seek

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 forms of missiles to safeguard themselves against assassination and all that distinguishes the current political geography. According to Jegede CO (2014)

 

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 component for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

 

THE EXTENT OF KIDNAPPING  IN KADUNA AND  IT’S SOUTHERN PART

 

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 of more than 50,000 people. 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 Boko Haram insurgency. The findings of Ayuba, M. R, (2020) indicates that 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 of the participants corroborates the statement of the Nigerian Acting Inspector 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 where 365 people were abducted in the first quarter of 2019.

 

SOCIO – ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF KIDNAPPING  IN  SOUTHERN KADUNA AND  AT LARGE

 

Nigeria The unpleasant impacts of kidnapping in Nigeria are various, and include economic, social, physical, medical, political, international, psychological/emotional, and moral

effects. For this research the socioeconomic effects of kidnapping will be analyzed which was one of the goal of this research.

 

.1 Economic Effect

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 to kidnappers, while the indirect economic cost of abducting include payments on

preventive measures, such as the employment of personal security personnel.At the governmental status, the economic impacts of kidnapping encompass the 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.

Similarly, Nigeria relinquishes substantial amount of earnings when immigrants

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 usually went as distant as borrowing to rescue their families out from the hands of

Kidnappers.

In many examples, it is frequently the bread winners of households that are

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 large could be deprived of development coalitions and opportunities (Akpan 2010). It

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).

 

The casualties work- place will similarly be implicated adversely. If the fatality

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.

 

2. Social Effect of Kidnapping

The danger of kidnapping has facilitated a sense of insecurity in Nigeria. Kidnapping 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. 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

kidnappers. People are coerced to present an unfinished look of poverty by not painting the exterior walls of their houses. Numerous people are scared to acquire or use new motor vehicles for the uncertainty of kidnappers.

In respects to inter-personal connection, kidnapping has also provided to a

reasonably elevated status of distrust among people of Southern Kaduna. Kidnapping creates high level of suspicion among the people. According Soyombo (2009) “an innocent interaction could jeopardize confidence and since researches have indicated that perpetrators of Kidnapping usually employ colleagues, families, neighbours, coworkers, househelps, etc. To solicit relevance information which can be used to kidnap fatalities, there could high degree of uncertainty and distress in social nteraction among partners of the neighborhoods in southern Kaduna.

 

The assaults on Buda and Kemara Rimi are the latest in a sustained campaign of turmoil targeting farming districts in southern Kaduna, which has been

ongoing ,which is characterized by murder, killing, looting, rape, coerced

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 kidnappers are usually targeting schools and places of worship. The farmers of Southern Kaduna are no longer comfortable in their farmlands, they either dismay to go to the farms or leave the produce unharvested  and this circumstance created poverty, starvation and other social vices. Most devastating, it 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 highway crime management.

 

Summarily, Kidnapping constitutes a veritable menace to Nigeria’s endurable

development in the light of the following: it leads to loss of life, a danger to public

safety, it sabotages economic growth and advancement by way of capital and

investment flight, It results in negative understanding of Nigeria on multinational event, with its malicious consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it creates an environment of public insecurity, thereby threatening

the possibilities of societal improvement it has frequently led to loss of investment capital, closure of enterprises, and unemployment etc. In effect, the increasing 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 image at global arena, increase in unemployment ratio, danger of an apparent descent to a castaway state, huge loss of sources of resources from taxes, tourism, hotels, housings, etc. (2008: para 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLUTIONS  TO THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

 

According to previous researches conducted by Turner (1998), Akpan (2010),Iyang and Abraham (2013), Chukuigwe, N. ; Albert, C.O among others the following are some of the recommended solutions to the problem of kidnapping in Southern Kaduna

and Nigeria.

 

1. Training Anti- Kidnapping Agents

Any government that wants to fight kidnapping successfully must employ and equip competent agencies to fight the problem. When law enforcement mechanisms are vigorously involved, the incidence of this scandal can be diminished.

 

1. Strengthen the Security Agencies

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. Seriously Punishments for Offenders 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.

 

1. Job Creation

Creating employment for nationals, particularly for the youth, can have anenormous

impact in the combat against the crime. When people are gainfully engaged, they do

not prefer to perpetrate crimes.

 

d .Tackling the conflict between herdsmen and farmers;

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 control to dearest level, Kidnapping will simultaneously curtail.

e.SIM Cards Registration

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

all, the perpetrators employed phone-based procedure for negotiation of ransom.

1. Quitting Ransom Payment

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.

1. Consolidation and Adoption of a Re-Modified System of Community Policing

The unification and adoption of a modified system of community policing idea would

be a veritable security information source to the security mechanisms. The recent

security outfits formed to police the neighborhood should be recurring and revealingand reporting any uncertain movement about kidnapper’s hideaways.

They should be empowered with trucks and communication equipment and

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 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

caught lodging kidnap casualties should be confiscated or demolished for prospective

occurrence and decent and safe society.

1. Stoppage of Small and Light Arms Proliferation

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

present power, without even fulling the catalyst.This weapons coercive potent manipulated by the perpetrators to deal with theirkidnapees to coerce with their demand without opposition and hesitation. Thegovernment needs to regulate it passable boundaries to content illicit discharges ofweapons. Also, the local black-smith have to be regulated and controlled on theircreation because they frequently generate and develop weapons that end up in the immoral hands or with the perpetrators such as kidnappers and other delinquents.

 

 

Summary

This study is designed to examine the effects of kidnapping on socioeconomic

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,

unemployment, standards, payment of ransom to kidnappers, etc. It was found that

kidnapping in Southern Kaduna is on increase to a terrible extent, so rampant in

Kaduna state and Nigeria this present time hardly couple of days without people being

kidnapped. Furthermore, an effect of kidnapping in Kaduna has obvious implications

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,

offices, roads, and a night trip has become risky. 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.

 

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