Abduction is a crucial problem and often takes place in Nigeria. More than 4,700 people have been kidnapped since President Bola Tinubu came into power in 2023. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, in the latest kidnapping events, dozens were abducted by gunmen (suspected to be militants) from a remote town in Borno State in the north-east while more than 280 were abducted by armed men (suspected to be militants) from a school in northwestern Kaduna State — rendered the biggest in Nigeria from a school since 2021 — this week. The resurgence of mass kidnapping, which is endangering the lives of the most vulnerable Nigerians, has definitely led to concerns.
It is notable that there are economic, political and other causes behind abductions in Nigeria. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons, a lack of security and the inability of the forces to disrupt the kidnapping activities of criminal organizations, which target individuals for ransom or other nefarious purposes, increase abductions. Additionally, political instability, religious and ethnic tensions, which fuel conflict and violence in certain regions, and porous and insecure borders often contribute to abduction. But poverty, unemployment and limited economic opportunities foster the ground for abduction and seeking ransom, paying of which has been made illegal in Nigeria. Kidnap-for-ransom is a low-risk but high-reward business in Nigeria. Those who are kidnapped are usually freed after the ransom is given.
The government takes legal and other steps to address abductions in Nigeria. Increased security measures, collaboration with international organizations to track down perpetrators and the implementation of stricter penalties for those involved in abductions help combat kidnappings many times in Nigeria. Additionally, efforts have been made to improve intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies to prevent incidents of abduction. However, there are many limitations in the steps. The lack of proper enforcement of existing laws and regulations is a notable limitation in addressing abductions in Nigeria. The perpetrators were rarely punished in earlier abductions. Weak law enforcement and judicial systems definitely allow abductors to continue abductions with little fear of consequences.
The lack of adequate resources for law enforcement agencies, limited coordination between different levels of government and the lack of gathering accurate information on abduction cases are some other crucial limitations. Corruption within the system and a lack of political will also contribute to the difficulty in addressing the abduction menace — effectively. Additionally, and importantly, economic issues are less addressed. Notably, criminal gangs demanded foodstuffs, motorcycles and petrol in exchange for the release of abductees in the past. Organized crime syndicates involved in human trafficking and other illegal activities are less addressed and support for the victims of abduction is less, hindering their recovery and reintegration into society.
Effective steps need to be taken to address the limitations of combating the menace of abduction in Nigeria. For this, increasing security measures in high-risk and remote areas and improving law enforcement response times, along with improving the ability, can help prevent abductions from occurring. Implementing community watch programs and creating public awareness of safety precautions may be effective. But addressing the underlying economic causes and reintegration steps are vital to reducing abductions. Transnational cooperation from several countries including Niger and Cameroon is also imperative to combat kidnappings. Among others, mitigating religious and ethnic tensions may help reduce abduction in Nigeria.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
