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Kidnapping In Nigeria Implications For National Security
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CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
All
over the world societies have had to deal with criminality in various
forms. Some of these forms of criminality have proved a great challenge
to the society and stretched the debate on what crime is. The concept of
crime has a long history in the civilization of man. Some religious
communities see crime in the perspective of sin (Wikipedia Encyclopedia
2010).Some highlighted the issue of crime as sin in a mythological or
legendary account of the origin of man. One of such is the Quran and
Biblical records of the fall of man which tells the story of Adam and
Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (King James
Bible). There are disparities on the concept of crime with regards to
people and places (Hulsman, 2000: 2).Nevertheless,when it bears its
effect upon individuals and national security, it often becomes an issue
of national concern. Some of these crimes have evolved through societal
and legal processes giving some form of societal idiosyncrasies to some
criminal acts.
One of such criminal act is kidnapping. Defining
kidnapping poses a number of definitional problems in relations to a
country’s legal and moral viewpoints as well as the availability of
variances such as hostage taking and hijacking. However, in the context
of this paper, Kidnapping in criminal law is an offence involving taking
and conveying away a person against his or her will, either by force,
fraud or intimidation (Wikipedia Encyclopesia, 2010). The issue of
kidnapping however gained its early prominence in England when kids were
abducted (EtymologyOnline, “Kidnapâ€). The word kidnapping thereby
culminated from the phrase “kid nabbing†and was first recorded in the
year 1673 (EtymologyOnline, “Kidnapâ€). Over the years, it has taken
different forms with regard to the reason for carrying out such action
by perpetrators.
Kidnapping is a global phenomenon which has been of
great challenge to every government of affected countries. Some areas of
concern to most government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
are the relationship of kidnapping to the issue of human trafficking and
prostitution (SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking
of Women and Chilren for Prostitution). In recent times, the crime of
kidnapping has been linked to political intents where victims are
kidnapped to push forward a political statement (Cambodian Law of
Kidnapping and Trafficking).It has also been related to the issue of
terrorism which has threatened global security (Osaghae, 2007: 19-22).
Another reason for kidnapping which has recently gained prominence in
Nigeria is kidnapping for ransom. Each and every one of these reasons
has in one way or the other threatened the national security of
countries where such crime is perpetrated. Its resultant effects have
been the proliferation of arms and the parting of large sums of money to
kidnappers from victims. This has therefore been a major threat to
national security of any nation.
As a matter of importance to the
survival of any nation, the issue of national security becomes paramount
in the policies of government. This is as a result of the fact that the
survival of the political, economic, social and diplomatic sovereignty
of any nation depends highly on the national security of that nation
(Yun, Hostage Taking and Kidnapping in Terrorism). The concept of
national security is wide with different definitions; as there is no
universally accepted definition of national security. Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo defined National Security as “the aggregation of the security
interests of all individuals, communities, ethnic groups, political
entities and institutions which inhabits the territory of our great
country Nigeria†(A Priority for U.S National Security and African
Development).
A more comprehensive and all-emcompassing world-view
definition of national security was made by President Barack Obama in
the context of the US which can also be adopted by other nations. He
defined national security as the security of the US, its citizens,
partners and allies, a strong innovative and growing economy and an open
international economic system that promotes opportunity and prosperity.
He added that national security also encompass the respect for
universal values at home and around the world and an international order
that promotes peace, security, and opportunity through stronger
cooperation to meet global challenges (International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Assembly Resolution, 1976
). The crime of kidnapping however threatens the very elements of this
definition which is encompassed in national development which should
therefore be of serious national concern.
In Nigeria, the crime of
kidnapping gained prominence lately with the political strives of
militants of the Niger Delta region of the South-South Nigeria (Barack,
2010). The kidnapping of expatriates in Nigeria threatens the very
economic base of the nation which is oil exploration. To further push
forward their political statement, the militants stepped up their
criminal acts by kidnapping Nigerians of high political status or
political figures. This eventually led to the Federal Government of
Nigeria (FGN) taking decisive steps in checking the activities of
militants which eventually resulted in the amnesty programme of the Late
President Umar Yar Adua (Akpan, 2010). Unfortunately, the business of
kidnapping spread to other areas of the country especially in the
Eastern part of Nigeria and metamorphosed into a business mostly
perpetrated by youths to make money.
Presently, the rate of
kidnapping in Nigeria, in spite of the effort of police and other
security agencies has been quite worrisome and poses a great challenge
to the national security of the country. It has stalled business
activities in some areas as well created fear in the minds of
Nigerians.On the other hand, the perpetrators, who are mostly youths,
are lost to such criminal activities instead of being gainfully employed
as productive citizens for Nigeria’s development. The kidnapping of
some journalists around Abia state was regarded as the height of the
insensitivity of kidnappers (Egwemi, 2010).This has prompted the
government of Nigeria to initiate strategies to check kidnapping in the
country. The various states in Nigeria are initiating steps at
establishing stringent laws to dissuade would-be kidnappers (Nigeria’s
Latest Booming Business, AFP). There is however the need for government
to initiate more strategies to curb the menace of kidnapping which
threatens the national security of Nigeria.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The study was set out with four objective: to determine the relationship between kidnapping and national security, to examine the various factors responsible for kidnapping in Nigeria, to determine the implication of kidnapping on national security, examine the challenges of curbing kidnapping in Nigeria and proffer ways of curbing the spread of the menace of kidnapping in Nigeria. The methodology used included the questionnaire as well as descriptive analysis of data presented. The study reveal ... Continue reading---
