Kidnapping in Nigeria’s Niger Delta: An Exploratory Study

Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has attracted global attention over the years both in the positive and negative dimension. On the positive side, the region harbours one of the largest world’s oil reserves. It constitutes the engine room of Nigeria’s economy through foreign exchange earnings and revenue generation to the government. On the negative side, the region has witnessed various forms of militancy, violence and crime, including kidnapping. This study explores the crime of kidnapping in the region. The study uses available news reports as well as personal and neighbourhood witnesses, in addition to the review of literature. In the result, various forms of kidnappings were identified in relation to economic and political motivations as well as kidnapping as instrument of liberation fight. The study gave an overview of developmental implications of kidnapping on the state economy. In the recommendation, the study emphasized on the need for inclusive governance whereby all layers of stakeholders have the benefit of empowerment and capacity building as opposed to the current practice of elitist governance.