Statistics reveal the staggering scale of the problem. In the first half of 2021 alone, over 3,000 individuals were kidnapped, and this number increased to 4,616 in 2022. Disturbingly, between July 2021 and June 2022, over 564 people lost their lives in violent incidents associated with abduction. In a recent incident on April 8, 2023, approximately 80 individuals, mostly women and children, were abducted by armed gunmen in Zamfara State.
One cannot forget the infamous case of the Chibok girls. On April 14-15, 2014, 276 girls were kidnapped by the notorious Islamic terrorist group known as "Boko Haram." These girls, aged between 16 and 18, were taken from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. While 57 managed to escape, 219 girls were held captive for ransom. In May 2016, Amina Alli, one of the kidnapped girls, was found, but the majority remain in captivity. The abduction of the Chibok girls sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign in 2014, yet after nine years, their release remains elusive.
Tragically, the Chibok incident was not an isolated event. In January 2015, just months after the Chibok abduction, Boko Haram kidnapped 40 boys and young men in Malari, Borno State. In February 2018, in Dapchi, 110 schoolgirls were abducted, and as of March 4, 2018, they had not been rescued. Disturbingly, a UNICEF report published in April 2018 revealed that over 1,000 children had been kidnapped. Another report by UNICEF disclosed that between 2020 and 2022, a shocking 1,436 children were abducted in Nigeria.
Kidnapping has evolved into a complex practice carried out by bandits, terrorists, and cultists across Nigeria. The motives behind these abductions can be economic, political, or ideological. Ransom kidnappings, ritual kidnappings, child abductions, and strategic bargaining are different patterns observed in these cases.
These abductions are often premeditated, and ransom kidnappings have become distressingly common in Nigeria. Additionally, cases of kidnapping for ritual purposes have emerged.
To address this pressing issue, several solutions are necessary. First, areas heavily affected by kidnapping must have heightened security measures in place, and the public should remain vigilant. Second, efforts should be made to discourage the payment of ransoms, although this is a complex challenge that requires government intervention.
The issue of kidnapping demands urgent attention and discussion. The safety of individuals outside their homes is at risk, as anyone can fall victim to abduction. By implementing effective security measures, discouraging ransom payments, and prioritising government intervention, it is possible to combat and reduce the incidence of kidnapping in Nigeria.
Oddiri, a student of the Department of English and Literary Studies at Delta State University in Abraka, aptly highlights the severity of the issue and calls for urgent action to protect the nation's citizens.