Armed Banditry and Kidnapping in Nigeria

Kidnapping has become a major security issue in Nigeria, with reported cases in every part of the country in recent years. The interplay between armed banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria is the focus of this chapter. It critically explores how armed banditry continues to be one of the leading causes of Nigeria’s escalating kidnapping trend and examines the motivation for kidnapping by armed bandits. It dwells on the changing tactics and characters of kidnapping by armed bandits, its consequences, and state responses to kidnapping by armed bandits. While kidnapping is motivated by various factors, economic motivation is at the heart of kidnapping by bandits. The chapter argues that bandit kidnapping has negatively impacted national security, food security, education, and economic sectors. It has also fueled humanitarian crises and nutritional inadequacy. In response, the states (both federal and state governments) have undertaken a variety of control mechanisms, in addition to military actions. Though security operations against armed bandits are necessary to reduce kidnappings and banditry in Nigeria, they may not provide long-term security. There is an urgent need to strive towards a coordinated and collaborative approach to prevent bandits from escalating further.