CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Kidnapping has recently been a historic
issue in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other parts of the world
and good governments are doing as much as they can to ensure that the
kidnappers are captured and punished. Kidnapping is abducting and
holding anybody captive, typically to obtain a ransom. At times,
kidnappers hold their captives longer in order to demand more from the
relatives of their victim. The current situation in Nigeria could be
likened to an inferno drawing both the old and the young; the rich and
the poor; and the local and the international communities to itself.
Some jobless youths now see kidnapping as a lucrative business they can
venture to without minding the possible implications it has on the
nation. This is evident in the recently nabbed criminal known as Evans
(Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike) who is proved to be a billionaire in the
kidnapping business. No one is safe anymore. Every day, tens of
Nigerians are kidnapped for various reasons ranging from economic,
political and personal grievances. Some are killed before they were
rescued while others are rescued by their relatives after paying ransom.
The first case of kidnapping for financial payments occurred between
the year 1999 and 2000 when Niger Delta criminal gangs
abducted expatriate oil workers and made demands for payment of
huge ransom. Since then, the criminal business of kidnapping people for
ransom has become a nationwide occurrence. The act can be traced back to
the series of foreign oil and construction workers as well as the
series of attacks on the oil facilities by militants in the Niger –Delta
region of Nigeria. Since the beginning of this criminal act,
kidnapping, Nigeria has recorded huge losses in crude oil. This has made
many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to spring up in Nigeria. One
of such is ‘Erukaye Hope’, a non-governmental organization based in
Delta State. Many have and are still making effort to obstruct this
criminal business.
Kidnapping is all over Nigeria. It is a
national problem that has eaten so deep into the tissues of the nation.
It is a problem that must be tackled nationally. Kidnapping is growing
daily in Nigeria. This criminal commerce paints an ugly picture of the
already battered image of Nigeria. This kidnapping racket has become
incurable disease. Kidnapping has become a life threatening ailment. For
example, one can arguably say that there is no month in Nigeria when we
do not read on the pages of newspapers about cases of kidnapping.
Nigerians who are involved in this ugly business find it difficult to
quit. Kidnappers now see kidnapping as a business that can never be
stopped by any government in Nigeria. This is because the government of
Nigeria is yet to take a bold step to find a lasting solution to this
barbaric act. Once the government comes with a stiff action against the
kidnappers, the idea of seeing the trade as a type coated with much profit would be a forgotten trade.
Many famous and rich men and women have
been victims of kidnapping in the country. Among them are popular
Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie, who was abducted at Afor-Nkpor in Idemili
North Local Government Area of Anambra State in 2009; first runner-up of
Mr Nigeria pageant and Nollywood actor, Kenneth, was kidnapped in 2012
in Owerri, Imo State, with the kidnappers demanding N100 million.
Another Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, also tasted the bitter pill
of kidnapping. A traditional ruler in Delta State had become a victim of
kidnapping. He was eventually found dead after many days of captivity.
The aged mother of the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating
Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Professor Mrs.
Okonjo, was kidnapped in Asaba, held captive for several weeks before
she was released by the kidnappers after payment of undisclosed amount
of ransom. The father of the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria,
Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Pa Soludo, was kindnapped in Anambra State,
held in captivity for several weeks before he was released, again, after
payment of undisclosed amount of money. Even former President Goodluck
Jonathan was not spared, as his foster father was abducted from his
Otueke-home in Bayelsa State. Shettima Ali Monguno was kidnapped in
Borno State, spent several weeks in captivity before he was released
after payment of undisclosed sum of ransom. Three girls from the
Babington Junior Seminary in Ikorodu, Lagos, were kidnapped, later found
and rescued by a combined team of police, Department of Security
Services agents) and the Army. Around mid-January 2017, kidnappers
stormed the Nigerian Turkish International College, Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway, Ogun State, and whisked away five pupils into captivity.
However, the Nigerian government has
been trying to ensure that the rampant kidnapping incidences in the
country are completely eradicated or reduced to a minimal level and also
ensuring that the kidnappers or those behind the scene will not
unpunished. This can be seen from the recent step taken the Lagos State
Government by signing a law prohibiting kidnapping and that kidnappers
upon being caught will be sentenced to life imprisonment and should in
case the victim dies in their custody, they will be sentenced to death
with immediate effect. The security and welfare of the citizens is the
primary purpose of government and governance. Without the security of
lives and properties, of contractual agreements between various
individuals, society cannot exist, neither can government. The function
of modern society and government is the protection of the constitutional
rights of the citizens, security of lives and properties and full
enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
There is the need to reform the legal
and judicial system to ensure strict compliance with the relevant laws
relating to kidnapping and related offences. The law must be seen to
adequate, effective and has the power to sanction and/or punish without
fear or favour without let or hindrance. Trial cases involving
kidnapping should be expedited and publicized adequately. No secret
trial involving kidnapping cases. The scourge must be exposed as an
evil. But whether capital punishment is the ultimate goal of the penal
system here or not, the important thing is that the guilty must be
punished in accordance with the principles of supremacy and rules of
law. We need to commend the effort of the judiciary particularly the
Nigerian Police in recently nabbing the notorious billionaire kidnapper,
Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans. Provision must be made
to the effect that property of anyone found guilty of kidnapping will be
confisticated and/or destroyed – as a form of social punishment.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Nigeria has turn to a playing ground of
carnage, restiveness, religious violence and incessant kidnapping which
discourage many people to have hope in better Nigeria or to have belief
in promised changed. This study pointed that things have completely
changed in Nigeria because the kidnappers determined celebrities and
highly influential people to gain grand of huge ransom and those behind
it are youth that supposed to be the leader of tomorrow but because of
corruption, injustice, poverty and unemployment they are now kidnapping
the leader of today as the only means of getting money to survive.
There is no gain in saying that
mass-media has exhausted their tenacity in reporting the cases of
kidnapping in Nigeria. Because the speed with which evil is growing in
Nigeria and the merciless ways that lives of innocent ones are being
wasted are worrisome. According to Omede, (2015) people are burdened on a
daily basis with psychological and emotional trauma resulting from gory
sights of lifeless and mutilated bodies of loved family members, close
associates and colleagues littered on the streets, public squares and
everywhere. Therefore, this is a case that we must collectively fight
against in the country.
1.3 Research Questions
This research will be carried out to answer the following research questions:
i) what are the reasons for kidnapping in Nigeria?
ii) what is the prevalence of kidnapping in Nigeria?
iii) what are the measures being taken by the government to combat kidnapping in Nigeria?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to
investigate the issue of rampant kidnapping that is causing fear and
unrest in the nation and how it can be tackled. However, the specific
objectives of the study are: to;
i) to inquire the reasons for kidnapping in Nigeria
ii) to survey the prevalence of kidnapping in Nigeria
iii) to investigate the measures being taken by the government to combat kidnapping in Nigeria
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study sought to investigate the
causes, effects and solutions for kidnapping in our nation. The
solutions from this study, if it can be duly followed, will make
kidnapping to become a thing of history in our nation.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study will cover every passionate and concerned Nigerian that is aware of any kidnapping issue or the other in the country.
1.8 Limitation of the study
This study sought to investigate the
causes, effects and solutions for kidnapping in our nation. The
researcher was faced with limited time in carrying out this research.
Many respondents were not willing to give adequate information while few
of them that have been victims of kidnapping in the past were afraid of
responding to the research questions because of the fear of being
kidnapped again.
1.8 Definitions of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Kidnapping: This is an unlawful asportation and confinement of a person against his or her will.
Abduction: The action of forcibly taking someone away against their will.
Victim: A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.