Besides terrorism, another predominant [though maybe not in the aspect of fatalities] criminal activity that has drawn the provocation of well-meaning Nigerians is Kidnapping- this could arguably be adjudged the second most common crime in the nation. The wave of hostage taking has been so perplexing that the Legislature had to propose a death penalty for the perpetrators of this crime.
There appears to have been an advancement or rather a change in the modus operandi of kidnappers as a more direct and professional measure [with the aim of obtaining ransom] is now mainly adopted over the pettiness and/or amateurish nature of 'one chance' and kidnappings geared towards ritualistic purposes. Kidnappings were initially rampant in the Niger Delta region where expatriate workers of multinationals [especially oil companies] were prime targets.
The act has however spread across the nation with many eminent and rich personalities bearing- directly or indirectly- the brunt of the kidnappers: Former Finance minister, Chief Olu Falae; Professor James Adiche (Renowned author, Chimamanda Adiche's father) and the mother of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (minister of Finance in the past administration), Mrs. Mabel Okonjo just to mention a few [prominent citizens] have all had to spend hours in the den of their captors at one point or the other.
In some instances, this hideous act has dealt the captives [and their loved ones] devastating blows both psychologically and emotionally. However, more heartrending it gets when all that is gotten from the captors' den is the lifeless body of the victim. Two foreign construction workers: Mr. Chris McManus, a Briton and Mr. Franco Limolinara, an Italian were killed in 2012 after they had been held captive for about ten (10) months. Back in April, 2016, the nation was aggrieved upon hearing the news of Reverend Father John Adeyi, a Catholic priest who died while being held hostage somewhere in Benue and this was even after his captors had allegedly parted away with the sum of 2 million naira.
Why the rise in trend?
Although no crime should be given a mainstay in any nation's configuration but it will be inexcusable to think that these crimes just took an upsurge while we neglect some underlying factors that might have brought about this surge. Firstly, it is apparent that the rise in kidnappings has a direct proportionality with the rise in the rate of unemployment hence it can be deduced that one reason why hostage taking has gained ascendance is unemployment...as the perpetrators envision illicit act as a way of making fast cash. And as it regards the Niger Delta, the incidences of kidnappings had risen owing to a need [as put forward by the militants] to liberate their communities from the overbearing influence of multinationals thus a resort to hostage taking and ransom collection but at the end; the communities remain as they were before the villainous act.
The unsolved riddles of Chibok
If there is an event that shook the nation and also made- and still does- local and international news outlets buzz; it is the incident that occurred in Chibok, Borno State on the night of the 14th day of April, 2014 when 276 teenage school girls were kidnapped by members of the militant group, Boko Haram. The militants reportedly ransacked the school and made away with the girls in trucks. The drive behind this move was the intention to marry the girls and subsequently islamize them. Controversies have however trailed the Chibok event as some see it as a political propaganda to oust the immediate past government and questions have also been raised on some discrepancies that were noticed during the kidnapping operation. Though the dust over the Chibok incident seems to be settling; there remains some unanswered questions brewing in the minds of the probing ones.
The way forward
The call for capital punishment could be seen as a good move but this should not be seen as an outright solution...it is of equal importance that the government champion the cause for an improved/upgraded intelligence and security devices- what is preventing the installations of CCTV on our roads and streets? The earlier the wings of the kidnappers get clipped, the more secured our communities will be.
Again, the issue of unemployment needs to be sternly addressed. Gainfully employing the youths will definitely reduce the onslaught of kidnappings in the nation...an idle mind, they say; is the devil's workshop.