Abstract:
Kidnapping is a major security threat, generating concern in urban and rural areas in
Nigeria. Previous research focused on kidnapping in the context of petro-economy and
militancy, with more emphasis on incidents in urban areas than rural communities.
Therefore, this study examined the trends, causes, patterns and consequences of
kidnapping in Ovom Ama-asaa, Abia State, Nigeria.
Brantingham and Brantingham’s Crime Pattern, Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activity,
and Hirschi’s Social Control provided the framework. The case study and the
exploratory designs were adopted. Primary and secondary sources of data were
utilised. The primary data comprised ethnography, three focus group discussion
sessions with elders, women and youths, 20 in-depth interviews conducted with 14
elders, a woman leader, four clergymen, and one officer of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Also, 10 key informant interviews were held with
seven chiefs, a king and two repentant kidnappers. The secondary data were sourced
from relevant publications. Data were subjected to content and trend analyses.
There was an increase in the incidence of kidnapping between 2010 and 2012, while
the incidents decreased between 2013 and 2016, owing to foot patrols by vigilantes.
The collapse of traditional values, inadequate investment in youth-centred human
development, neglect of human security, gaps in functional leadership and weak social
control accounted for the incidents of kidnapping. Kidnapping was not focused on
highly attractive targets alone but the preventive ransom was also collected from
elders, businessmen and prominent community members who were outspoken against
the act of kidnapping. People were kidnapped at homes, farms, shops, churches, during
ceremonies and isolated places. The kidnappers tortured those in captivity and still
received ransoms after the unlucky victims lost their lives. Many people hid in nearby
bushes around their homes, while some preferred to leave the community to reduce the
risk of being kidnapped. Kidnapping contributed to the loss of monetary value, sources
of livelihood and property to the extent that farmers became afraid of going to their
farms. The measures for controlling kidnapping were both village-based and
community-focused. Weekly palace council community security review was strategic
in reducing kidnapping. The community-driven security strategy, an initiative by the
palace council aimed at discussing community safety matters after receiving reports
from stakeholders, and sustained by traditional security providers had reduced the
occurrence of kidnapping.
Kidnapping in Ovom Ama-asaa, Abia State, Nigeria, from 2010-2016 had poor social
control measures that motivated the act and undermined human development.
Stakeholders should implement regularly non-formal peace education to change the
mindset of the people away from kidnapping acts in the community.
