Implications Of Kidnapping On National Security In Nigeria: A Case Study Of Niger Delta Crisis (1999-2009)

Project and Seminar Material for Political Science

Abstract

Kidnapping has overtime become endemic in the Nigerian society especially in the Niger delta region. This study is aimed at examining the implication of kidnap on national security in Nigeria. The study was conducted through collaboration with specific objectives, which among them included to examine the effect of the government in checking the problem, find out the strength of the country’s constitution towards the problem and proffer useful suggestions as remedies to the problem in general. It has established that it is not only a crime but it violates the victim’s human right to freedom and create both social and psychological impacts in the lives of the victim and relatives. It also suggests a range of measures respective authorities, stakeholders (religious, community and political) and security agencies can adopt better to address the needon destruction of life and properties which is due to grievances and repression by the government and the oil companies over the years. The research work represents a worthy and timely contribution to knowledge, information and developments in combating the menace in the country particularly in the South-South region.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Nigeria is a state under perpetual internal security threat from various ethno-religious militias or political insurgents. At a more general level the threat has social, economic, political and environmental dimensions. Each of these dimensions, singly and conjointly, greatly affects the nation’s stability and well-being. Threats to national security can be said to range from the menace of separatist demands, militancy, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and a host of other crimes which has negatively affected the security situation of the society. (Praeger; Newyork, 1990.)

Kidnapping has overtime become endemic in the Nigerian society especially in the Niger delta region. It is fast becoming a lucrative alternative to armed robbery and other related offence. The gravity of kidnapping is so intense that it has virtually affected most persons in our society and has grossly undermined the security of the country. The current dimension of kidnapping became noticeable in the Niger Delta region when militants in February 2006 abducted some oil workers, obviously to get global attention to the dire situation and need in the oil rich Niger Delta region of the country, the victims were mostly foreigners. Since then the social problem of kidnapping has increased geometrically in most parts of the country, especially in the south-eastern and south southern regions of the country. The targets are no longer foreigners alone; practically every Nigerian is now a target. On the hind sight, however, it is now on record that the former Governor of Anambra State was kidnapped in July 10, 2003 by his fellow political party members who were in opposition with him (Emewu & Anyanwu, 2009). Arguably, therefore, kidnapping is not actually new in the area; but the current lucrative ransom demanding strategy has become a serious social problem for the Government and people of Nigeria. For instance, in the year 2008 Nigeria was placed sixth on the global kidnap index by an online tourism site. This rating puts the country Nigeria among countries with serious kidnapping problems like Philippines, Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil, and Mexico (Ujumadu, 2008; Ekpe, 2009). Such report could serve as an assumption due to lack of accurate statistical data. Also Ekpe, (2009) reported that Nigeria recorded 512 cases of kidnapping and 30 dead persons in kidnappers’ den that year as against 353 cases recorded throughout 2008. Kidnapping cases in southern Nigeria and particularly the Niger delta region have been ravaging the country and greatly exposed the security shortcomings of the country.

The safety of persons in Nigeria and their properties cannot be guaranteed. Kidnapping is a criminal offence punishable by the law in Nigeria. Anybody caught involved in the act is expected to face a penalty of 10years imprisonment. Nigerians and non Nigerians residing in the country are living in fear as regards who will be the next kidnap victim, since kidnappers spare no one as far as their motives are actualised. Over the last few years, the wealthy and the income earners have been picked up by kidnappers who only free their victims after payments of ransom. Old people as well as children between the ages of two and five years have been taken hostage. The incident of kidnapping has affected Nigeria’s image as a nation abroad. It has also affected Nigeria’s attempt to develop a viable tourism industry as visitors are regularly warned by their countries to be wary of coming to Nigeria. Many would-be investors have also stayed away for fears of being kidnapped (Ekpe, 2009). Apart from the above observable evidence, many more problems which are associated with the problem of kidnapping will be unraveled during the cause of this research. This study further intends to examine the origin and proliferation of kidnapping in Nigeria. This is necessary because despite measures meant to curb it, kidnapping still prevails and it is on the increase in recent times.

1.2 Statement of the General Problem

The terrorism, kidnapping and hostage-taking witnessed in the Niger delta overtime is an offshoot of frustration and aggression due to unfriendly government policies, lack of sincerity on the part of government, exploitative tendencies and insensitivity of the multinational oil companies operating in the region.

The Niger Deltans were confident that oil discovery in their region would mean access to basic amenities, such as potable water, steady electricity supply, functional healthcare facilities, good roads, good schools and employment opportunities but the reverse has been the case. In their innocence, they believed that the Nigerian government and the multinational oil companies were interested in bringing development to their rural communities to fight against the negative consequences associated with the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas. After 50 year of operation, all of these dreams seem to be a nightmare.

Their demands are simple: “give us a fair share from the revenue accruing from our resources and care for our environment”. But a deaf hear was turned by both Government and the multinational operating companies and all they did was to pay lip services. These cumulated to the immediate past and present crisis in the Niger Delta Region and thus encouraged the emergence of armed groups and insurgents who terrorized the region for decades. Some armed group shifted the genuine fight for socio-economic justice for their communities to mere selfish desires through criminal activity such as piracy, kidnapping, hostage-taking and oil theft or bunkering.

These terrorist activities had grave implication for the economy stability and peace of the country. As fallout from the activities if the militants, the Federal government put the economic loss incurred by Nigeria while the Niger Delta crisis lasted at over N308.7 billion with a whopping N3 billion lost in 2008 alone to the conflict. This translates to the production loss of one million barrels of oil per day.

During this period, the nation’s exports were hampered as a result of the conflicts in which pipelines were vandalized and oil workers either kidnapped or maimed. The human impact during the crisis was unquantifiable given the magnitude of the criminality against human beings in the area.

Available record, he stated indicated that no fewer than 1000 lives were lost to the carnage in the region in addition to the spate of kidnappings during which local and expatriate workers were taken hostage including aged and young ones belonging to families of prominent individuals in the country.

It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the situation and if possible proffer solutions to prevent the re-occurrence of the crisis.

1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study

The major aim of the study is to examine the implications of kidnapping on national security in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study include;

Identify and discusses the major factors responsible for kidnapping in Niger Delta region
Discuss the effects of kidnapping on the security implications of Nigeria
Examine the major actors involved in this nefarious activities and their mode of operations
Review efforts of government and by security agencies aimed at curtailing the activities of Kidnappers.
To examine the effect of kidnapping on national security
Recommend effective options to the government and security agencies for addressing the issue.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

H₀: kidnapping does not have an effect on national security.
H₁: kidnapping has an effect on national security.
H₀: kidnaping does not have any significant impact on national security
H₂: kidnaping do have a significant impact on national security

1.6 Significance of the Study

This research work represents a worthy and timely contribution to knowledge, information and developments in combating the Niger Delta Militants group in Nigeria particularly in the South-South part of the country. It focuses on history, causes, implication and suggests remedy. It also looks into the role of security agencies, policy makers, stakeholders and the enabling laws in tackling the violent activities, particularly the spate of killings, kidnappings, hostage taking, bunkering, bombings of oil facilities etc. It suggests a range of measures respective authorities, stakeholders (religious, community and political) and security agencies can adopt better to address the wanton destruction of life and properties which is due to grievances and repression by the government and the oil companies over the years.

The study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further study on the subject matter.

1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study is restricted to the implications of kidnapping on national security in Nigeria from 1999 to 2009 using the Niger delta region as a case study

Limitation of the Study

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).

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.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Kidnapping

In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful asportation and confinement of a person against his or her will. Thus, it is a composite crime. It can also be defined as false imprisonment by means of abduction, both of which are separate crimes that when committed simultaneously upon the same person merge as the single crime of kidnapping.

Security

Security is the degree of resistance to, or protection from, harm. It applies to any vulnerable and/or valuable asset, such as a person, dwelling, community, item, nation, or organization

National Security

National security is a concept that a government, along with its parliaments, should protect the state and its citizens against all kind of “national” crises through a variety of power projections, such as political power, diplomacy, economic power, military might, and so on.

1.8 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of internet on newspaper production.

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the impact of internet on newspaper production.

5.2 Summary

The study was undertaken to investigate the implication of kidnapping on national security in Nigeria. The research was conducted through collaboration with specific objectives, which among them included to examine the effect of kidnapping on national security in Niger delta region, identify the role of government in checking the problem of kidnapping, find out the strength of the Nigerian constitution towards the problem of kidnapping, ascertain whether kidnapping in Nigeria has political dimension and proffer useful suggestion as remedies to the problem of kidnapping in Nigeria in general.

5.3 Conclusion

In the study on implication of kidnapping, we have established that it is a crime of unlawful seizure and taking a person away by force or detaining a person against his or her will with the intent of carrying that person away at a later period. Kidnapping is not only a crime, it violates the victim’s human right to freedom and create both social and psychological impacts in the lives of the victim and relatives. However, the crime of kidnapping has not been controlled due to some impediments which the Federal government and the general public have not surrendered for resolutions. The obstacles are concentrated in the areas of massive unemployment, worsening political instability, internal grievances, and get rich-quick syndrome. The government giving deaf ears to those problems have resulted to an escalated criminal enterprise among the miscreants and outcast of the society. As long as those social conditions exists, they will remain serious impediments to the solutions of kidnapping in the society.

5.4 Recommendations

Haven completed the study, the researcher recommends that there is need for effective community policing in the country. Not just institutionalizing the machineries, adequateoperational facilities should be given to the police to assist in their proper functioning. With these observations in mind particularly as it affects people with criminal tendencies. Henceforth families and relatives of victims should reject payment of ransom to kidnappers, because ransom payment has been noted to act as a motivational factor for the actions/operations of the criminal activities. Effective and well equipped anti-hostage/kidnapping agencies should be set up by the government in order to give stiff resistance to the perpetrators of kidnapping. Those found to have paid ransom to hostage takers should be warned to refrain from aiding and abetting crime. It is believed that this would go a long way to deter the act of kidnapping in Nigeria. The joint security forces instituted to check kidnapping should be sustained and given free role to report kidnapper’s hideouts. When they are rendered homeless, it will be difficult for them to carry-out their regular criminal operations. It is also necessary to enforce laws against any political/government official/public office holder found collaborating with kidnappers directly or indirectly. Such a person should be disqualified from holding, contesting/vying for any position in government. This will serve as deterrent to others who may want to venture into such criminal activities. There is need to encourage the media to organize public programs against the menace. When adequate information is given about the various measures to curb kidnapping, it could serve as threat to the perpetrators and could also assist them to change form their evil ways. Also, the on-goingsim card registration program by telecommunication operators in Nigeria should be enforced to the later. Subscriber’s passport photographs, finger prints, residential /working addresses should be recorded adequately. This will aid the security agencies to check the crime, since kidnapping involves the use of phones for effective perpetration.

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