Kidnapping is an illicit incident through which human-being is forcefully abducted to an unknown area against their will by another human-being because of the reason best known to them. As a result of this, Nigeria was ranked in the global index as one of the worst place to dwell in because of frequent kidnapping incident. Despite the fact that kidnapping is as old as human history itself yet its widespread in the current administration is quite alarming and call for proactive solution in order to make Nigeria a safe place to live. Kidnapping has now become a generic word both in public and private discuss going by its prevalence in the country.

To this effect, Ngwama [1] states that the word kidnapping, which has become notorious and disgusting in the ears, was coined from "kid" meaning child and "nab" which means to snatch. Contrary to this assertion, the menace of kidnapping has completely gone beyond abduction of kids in Nigeria because this current administration witness a lot of pandemonium and kidnapping of government official, politicians, influential people, lecturers, royal families, kinsmen and even some kings were recorded to have been kidnapping from their palace. In essence, Inynag and Abraham [2] agreed that Kidnapping has become endemic in the Nigeria society. It is fast becoming a lucrative alternative to armed robbery offence.

However, kidnapping is now a lucrative venture with some jobless youths manning the business. No one is safe anymore because every day, tens of Nigerians ware kidnapped for various reasons ranging from economic, political and personal grievances [3]. In the view of Criminal Law, Kidnapping refers to the transportation of a person against his or her will, usually to confine the person in false imprisonment without legal authority. This act may be perpetrated principally to extract ransom or in connection with child custody as a fall-out of marital dispute [4].

Therefore, this paper vindicates that kidnapping can be referred to as abduction or holding people hostage either to take ransom from the victim’s family or as a sacrifice for ritual money or as an extenuative appeasement to win political appointment. In the light of this, Nnamani [5] confirms that the primary source of kidnapping is greediness and quick unmerited wealth. And other causes of kidnapping include moral laxity, unemployment, non-implementation of relevant laws, easy access to arms and ammunition by political thugs. In the same vein, Uzorma and John [6] established that hostagetaking and kidnapping have existed in Nigeria in different forms and for different reasons but is among the business ventures in Nigeria today because some criminals use it as big industry and a steady source of income particularly in South-East.

However, Kidnapping is a dreadful challenge that disrupts the tranquility and harmonious consolation of the country. Suffice to say, this study discovered that kidnapping has spread to the nukes and crannies of Nigeria as a result of poverty, unemployment, idleness, frustration and desolation among the youths which enthuse frustrated member to gang up in order to carry out brutality and criminality. In the view of this, Afolabi [7] concludes that unemployment has been a major problem in most countries in the world. Nigeria, as a developing country is witnessing high rate of youth unemployment which has become one of the major threats to its national security.

It is imperative to note that youths are the potential leaders of any given country in the world because the youths constitute a formidable force and if their energies are properly channeled, there will be immense growth and development in that country but if their energies are dissipated on activities that are detrimental to National development such country experience myriads of problems such as unemployment, poverty, bad governance, religious violence, terrorism, cultism, militancy and kidnapping [8].

In the same vein, Danesy [9] argues that, the parental neglect, lack of proper counseling, poor skill acquisition and drop-out of school syndrome by youths have led many youths to migrate from rural areas to cities to meander around major roads where they have been seduced with cash benefit and conscripted into various types of gangs or secret cults where they have been trained as ethnic militia to unleash terror on other innocent people of their sponsors in the society.

Meanwhile, the objective of this research is to critically examine the causative factors responsible for the incessant bloodshed and kidnapping especially in this current administration in Nigeria and to proffer incisive solution in order to make Nigeria a great nation because the outbreak of kidnapping is provoking the immigrant and the citizen to the loss of lives and properties.

Nigeria has turn to a playing ground of carnage, restiveness, religious violence and incessant kidnapping which discourage many people to have hope in better Nigeria or to have belief in promised changed. This paper discovered that things have completely changed in Nigeria because the kidnappers determined highly influential people to gain grand of huge ransom and those behind it are youth that supposed to be the leader of tomorrow but because of corruption, injustice, poverty and unemployment they are now kidnapping the leader of today as the only means of getting money to survive.

There is no gain in saying that mass-media has exhausted their tenacity in reporting the cases of kidnapping in Nigeria. Because the speed with which evil is growing in Nigeria and the merciless ways that lives of innocent ones are being wasted are worrisome. According to Omede [10], people are burdened on a daily basis with psychological and emotional trauma resulting from gory sights of lifeless and mutilated bodies of loved family members, close associates and colleagues littered on the streets, public squares and everywhere.

Therefore, this paper concludes that the scourge of kidnapping in Nigeria was entrenched through political incrimination that made gun and ammunitions available for their ruffians and hooligans during political campaign and also government did not provide sustainable work for the youth which made number of unemployment to have increased geometrically.

Nigeria as a country has witnessed unprecedented series of agitations in the forms of kidnapping and abduction, armed robberies, bombing, and carnages of all forms and magnitude in the past decade and a half [10]. Meanwhile, available data on the level and dimensions of insecurity in Nigeria reveals an increase over time which constitutes serious threat to lives and properties hinders business activities and discourages local and foreign investors, all of which stifles and retards Nigeria’s socio-economic development [11].

Kidnapping has grown over the years as a thriving industry involving every level of the society and motivated by unlimited reasons. However, it has been difficult and problematic to define the phenomenon of Kidnapping because the word is difficult to define and could only be attempted in relation to a country’s legal and moral perspectives as well as the availability of various forms of Kidnapping such as hostage-taking and hijacking [4].

Meanwhile, Jesse [12] states that kidnapping takes innumerable forms but the growing pervasiveness of kidnapping crimes and their growing brutality has made the issue an important one for the international community. Always traumatic to the immediate victims, their families, friends and colleagues, kidnapping has grown into a criminal industry in some parts of the world, increasingly used by terrorist organizations to gain influence, funding and slaves. In this respect, Uzorma and Nwanegbo [6] of opinion that, kidnapping occurs when a person is abducted and taken from one place to another against their will, or a situation in which a person is confined to a controlled space without the confinement being from a legal authority. Consequently, when the transportation or confinement of the person is done for an unlawful purpose, such as for ransom or for the purpose of committing another crime, the act becomes criminal.

Contrary to the assertion of Mohamed [13] who traced the concept of kidnapping to have originated around 1682, Turner [14] argues that the menace of kidnapping was originated in 17th century in England where children were kidnapped and sold as slaves or agricultural workers to colonial farmers. Odoh [3] confirms that the current wave of kidnapping began with the abduction of expatriate oil workers by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND, a youth group) in late 2005 as a means of alerting the world of the many years of injustice, exploitation, marginalization and underdevelopment of Niger-Delta region.

To this effect, Nnamani [5] asserts that the early incidence of kidnapping may have been copied from the Niger Delta region when the militants abducted some oil workers in February, 2006 to draw global attention to the sorry situation in the oil rich Niger Delta region and the victims were mostly foreigners. However, Inynag and Abraham [2] conclude that the gravity of kidnapping is so intense that it has virtually affected most people in our society. The current dimension of kidnapping became alarmed in the Niger Delta region when militants in February 2006 abducted some oil workers, ostensibly to draw global attention to the dire situation in the oil rich Niger Delta region of the country but foreigners is their major target. Since then the social problem of kidnapping has spread like wild-fire in most parts of the country, especially in the south-eastern region. The targets are no longer foreigners alone practically every Nigerian is now a target.

Meanwhile, Ugwuoke [15] also argues that, to say that kidnapping is a menace in contemporary Nigeria is surely an understatement because according to him, Kidnapping in Nigeria first attracted national attention on 25th February 2006, when restive youths in the Niger Delta abducted some foreign oil workers in the bid to press home their demand for restitution and increased infrastructural development. Since then, this deadly crime has not only become ubiquitous, it has been shamelessly commercialized in different parts of the country.

Thom-Otuya [16] opines that kidnapping and hostage in Nigeria, started in the Niger Delta region in 1999, while kidnap for ransom became prevalent as from 2005. Today it is spreading like wild fire into the neighbouring South East, South West and Abuja. Meanwhile, Okoye et al. [4] confirms that, Kidnapping as a criminal behaviour represents a typical rational crime. It has increased in breath and sophistication in Nigeria since its advent in early 2007. In the same vein, Capt. Olaiya [17] confirms that, the menace of kidnapping in this country is a threat to sustainable Nigeria and national security. Hence, this evil starts almost 6 years ago, particularly during president Jonathan regime. He stressed further

The major cause for the incessant kidnapping in Nigeria is abound with the unexpected change of administration that harshly affected the muggers in the Niger delta that assigned by the former president with billions of Naira to watch over the petroleum rivulet. The soldier took over immediately after the swear-in of President Bukhari who rejected the idea such that, it unusual to assign gangster of ruffians to look after Petroleum creek which is one of Nigeria source of income. Consequently, these hooligans turned against government and destroyed the entire petroleum ocean to the zero level with ammunition bought with Nigeria money. As a result of block of money in all ramifications these muggers turned to kidnappers and mostly following the creek to carryout perilous activities.

Pertinently, the kidnapping of all manner of persons has gained ascendancy in Nigeria. A malady previously unknown to the people has rapidly become domesticated. In the last ten years, the volatile oil rich regions of the Niger Delta witnessed this phenomenon on a large scale with the target being mostly expatriates and Nigerians in the oil business. It has spread throughout the country extending to places as far as Kano and Kaduna in the far Northern part of Nigeria. South- East and South-South Nigeria have become known as the kidnappers’ playgrounds of Nigeria. [1]. In the view of Emanemua and Akintolu [18], kidnapping has recently become profitable venture among youths in Nigeria. According to him this criminal practice was first instigated in form of hostage taking in the Niger-Delta region of the country in calling the attention of the government to the marginalization of the region has seemingly become a variant of armed robbery with high level of expertise in abducting people for ransom illegally.

Otu [19] confirms that the high rate of kidnapping in Nigeria is the byproduct of world publicity of advance fee fraud (419). For the last two decades, 419 was very lucrative and there was no need for kidnapping for ransom. Nnamani [5] pointed out that, it appears that the use of cheque-books and the introduction of cashless society have made the armed bandits to change from armed robbery to another “lucrative” alternative (kidnapping). Furthermore, Emanemua and Akintolu [18] authenticate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to have states that, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government. Unfortunately, this primary purpose has become more and more challenging with the ascendancy of several insecurity threats such as: militancy, armed robbery, ritual killing, insurgency, hostage taking and kidnapping among others.

It is pertinent to recall that the current situation in Nigeria could be likened to an inferno drawing the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the local and the international community to itself. Hardly a day passes in Nigeria without kidnapping incidents making the headlines [3]. Therefore, the aims of this research is not only to examine the link and available materials on the causes and consequence of Kidnapping as a crime of unlawful, forceful seizure and detention of a person against their wish in anticipation of payment of ransom or to settle some scores of disagreement but also to scrutinize the range at which the menace of kidnapping affect Nigeria as a nation with scholastic philosophy.

The widespread of kidnapping in Nigeria is worrisome and calls for incisive solution. Meanwhile, the outcome of this research shows that Nigeria has twirled to a nation of restiveness, insurgent attack, religious violence and incessant kidnapping which discourage many people to have hoped that Nigeria will be reform as a better nation to live. Meanwhile, some of the factors that responsible for the unlawful detention or holding people hostage include the following:

Unemployment

The occurrence of unemployment in Nigeria in this 21st century is geometrically increased and all proactive measure forwarded by the federal government to hold back its menace was failed woefully to the extent that the numbers of unemployed youths continue to increase every day. Hence, it is unbearable to pronounce how Nigeria graduates losing their lives searching for job in spite their professional achievement.

Contemptibly, many of them were prancing as a sex hawker to the politicians in order to procure job, many others were took into service as political propaganda to instigate havoc in their various society and the lucky one are serving as a political blogger on social medial to disseminate bogus and counterfeit information in favor of political henchmen. As a result of this detrimental recruitment, these youths turn to monster which resulted to the occurrence of incessant robbery and kidnapping.

It is imperative to be mentioned that, unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing Nigeria like many other countries in the world because it is a global phenomenon as simply put by Adesina [20] who concludes that eligible workforce of a nation is disengaged in the service of the nation. Meanwhile, the state of unemployment among youths has become a critical and alarming issue in the whole world and Nigeria in particular [21].

To this effect, Kilishi et al. [22] believes that the rising trend of crime in Nigeria is usually blamed on the high rate of unemployment. That is why Suleiman [23] concludes that the problem of unemployment in Nigeria is one of the major syndromes that upturned youths to become atrocious actors. He pointed to the famous saying of the elder as known to us that ‘devil works in idle’s hand’ but Nigeria government underrate the negative impact of unemployed people.

However, the result of this research shows that most of the convicted kidnappers confessed that they were unemployed graduate looking for a way to survive and if there is no good way to stay alive the evil is the only option. This study further discovers that many youths have erred in joining criminal group because of unemployed ache. In the light of this, the paper recommends that, with immediate effect, Nigeria government should provide employment for the youth not only to discourage them from hostile habit but also to encourage them as a good citizen. Despite the fact that thousand of unemployed youth are looking for white cola job under federal or state government yet, the researcher agrees that, federal government cannot cater for the existing unemployed youth let alone the new graduates that is joining the labour force every day. In essence, well to do people in the society should assist government in entrepreneurial advancement and creation of high-quality job for the youths.

Poverty

Poverty is one of the causative spectrums that lead many people to turn out to be notorious criminal in Nigeria. Poverty is a financial incapacity or state of lacking basic requirement to live rational life. Basic requirement such as money, food, water and shelter among many others are the scourge of poverty which demoralized the less privilege to be inflicted with the wrath of anomaly [24].

Meanwhile, this study discovers that poverty has twisted many youths to have become disreputable kidnapers due to the implacable famine and deficient means to survive economic downturn. Adesina [20] confirms that Nigeria is currently facing serious job challenge and widespread decent work deficits, a development that is capable of increasing the spread of poverty. Therefore, the outcome of this research discovers that, the high the price of goods and service in Nigeria, the greater the number of poor people living under unrestricted famine and the higher the increase of poverty in a given society the greater the number of crime and detrimental vices predominant in that society.

In this respect, many people out of option concluded to kidnap a well to do people in the society because, the widespread of poverty in Nigeria has incurred outrageous predicament to the life of many Nigerian that is why Suleiman [24] concludes that poverty has triggered perilous spectrum to the life of people in Nigeria ever than before this current administration and thus, more than 60 percent were living in despicable famine, 20 percent were on the breadline, 10 percent were neither rich nor poor which as a result of this assessment only 10 percent can boast of their three time meals.

Contrary to the level of poverty bedeviling Nigerian, this country is one of the nations blessed with natural resources such as oil, gas and other valuable raw-materials yet, while mysterious hunger are killing people in thousands every day, the politician are burying money in a sock away pit while some of them are procuring expensive property that is not functional to their daily needs. As a mater vengeance, some youths ganged up in order to kidnap and demanding huge ransom from well to do people who are not ready to assist their immediate circumstances. This paper therefore recommends that, federal government should look in to the negative impact of poverty and it consequential shortcoming on the national security.

Ritual and spiritual proclivity

One of the major causes of kidnapping in Nigeria is the preponderance of ritual and spiritual proclivity. Kidnapping for ritual involves killing or severing the body part of abducted persons for the purpose of using it as an object of ritual sacrifice aim to acquire ritualmoney, favour, fame, success, power and protection [25].

This research discovered that many politicians seek protection and victory in elections from spiritual forces by using ritual, charms and various forms of cultic practices. It was observed that politicians used all forms of weapons to protect themselves against assassination and all that characterizes the present political terrain [26].

Kidnapping for ritual is an unlawful seizure of a person in order to kill and/or sever part of his or her body for the purpose of ritual sacrifice [25]. Meanwhile, the outcome of this research shows reveals that many people were kidnapped and later recovered with their head being cut off, eyes removed, genital and breast severed, arm and leg amputated. All these part of the body are being cut off as ingredient for sacrifice to acquire huge money, political appointment or fame.

However, this assertion is contrary to the message of the glorious Quran that ostracized absolute enjoyment of this ephemeral life especially with evil means, Allah said,

“So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely” (Muhammad Taqiud- deen and Mausin Khan Qur’?n 42: 36)

Human sacrifice is a blood sacrifice that involves killing of a living creature as a ritual offering to a god or spirit, usually in expectation of a return in the form of good fortune, whether generalized or as the granting of a particular prayer [27]. The process often involves victims that are charmed and made unconscious by the abductors at the point of capture. More victims die rather than survive their experience after being abducted for ritual [25].

The activity of ritual and spiritual killer was tantamount to the threat of kidnapping in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the widespread of Kidnapping for ritual and sacrifice has turned to natural phenomenon in such a way that many people believe that one cannot open the door of success without using human blood to appease the gods of earth or devil. However, In order to completely wipe out problem of kidnapping for rituals, government should enact a law to tackle spiritual realm. Individual, especially those who fond of killing for sacrifice should realized that almighty Allah is the only majesty who can provide for us not until when you sacrifice a soul before achieving your desire goal.

Political parochialism

The role of politicians to the upsurge of ruffians and higher killers in Nigeria especially during the time of political campaign has metamorphosed to disparaging kidnappers that obtain ammunition from politicians and using it to capture them when the trust had been contravened.

Meanwhile, Emanemua and Akintolu [18] emphasized that the political importance of thugs and hooligans to party aspirants during campaign periods, seem to have had a trickle down and spill-over influence on several innocent citizens. Previously jobless youths that were recruited by political godfathers to cause chaos, steal ballot boxes, and even kidnap viable political members from opposing parties has now taken up their seasonal job as a full time business.

There is no gain in saying that politicians are the godfather of kidnappers in Nigeria because they use their money to recruit jobless youths and train them to become monster in preparation for the incoming election. In other to reduce the vices of kidnapping in Nigeria, politician should not use their money and influence to conscript youths as a political ruffian during campaign.

Insecurity

The level of insecurity in Nigeria has increased the crime rate and terrorists attacks in different parts of the country leaving disgusting consequences for the nation’s economy and business growth. Despite the government efforts to assuage the menace of insecurity in Nigeria yet the country was confirmation with the low rank in the Global Peace Index [28]. As a result of insecurity, vices such as insurgence, theft, kidnapping, abduction are handled in Nigeria with lukewarm attitude which channel transformation and structural development to no avail. This is because when there is security threat in the country, money meant for such developments are often diverted into fighting such threats in the country [29]. At present, no part of the country is fully secure as different part of the country is faced with one form of insecurity or the other [30].

Meanwhile, the failure of successive administrations in Nigeria to address challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequitable distribution of wealth among ethnic nationalities, ultimately resulted to anger, agitation and violent crimes against the Nigerian state by some individuals and groups. Such crimes include militancy, kidnapping, bombing, armed robbery, vandalisation of government properties among others [31]. In the effect of above assertion, Emanemua and Akintolu [18] emphasized that the menace of kidnapping continue to spread wing due to cases on unsuccessful apprehension of culprits, and successful collection of ransom by captors, many Nigerians have seemingly lost interest in security operatives whom they sometimes see as collaborators with the perpetrators.

However, the term insecurity is a condition in which people have no confidence in the institutions and leadership that should protect their lives, property and provide for their wellbeing which consequently led their live into trauma, fear, anger, despair, suspicion and mistrust. In the same vein, Adebakin [32] viewed security as freedom from danger or threats, and the ability of a nation to protect and develop itself, promote and cherish values and legitimate interests and enhance the wellbeing of its people. This can be maintained through internal security system.

This research discovered that, the negative impact of insecurity towards kidnapping and abduction of influential people, government officials and kings from their palace was thriving because the kidnappers did not fear any security obstruction. To this effect, Ogedebe and Jacob [33] agreed that the development of any society to a large extent depends on the extent of the security of lives and properties of the citizens. A secured atmosphere will encourage intellectual minds who will be a great asset to the Nation building and will also guarantee an environment for the growth of infrastructural development.

Prevalence of alcoholic intake

Alcohol is one of the illicit substances that craft irreversible problem such as kidnapping, unnecessary violence, and many other imperil atrocities to Nigeria. In essence, Alcohol is a toxic substance that affects wide range of body organs and fabricate harmful risks to the health especially the brain cavity yet Alcohol is consumed by a large majority of people in Nigeria.

This research discovered that Alcohol is one of the thorny deceits of Satan to hypnotize mankind in order to perpetrate evil on earth. Hence, the psychoactive effects they produced include sedation, euphoria, mood changes, figment of the evil imagination, perceptual and other cognitive distortions with direct effects on motor-neuron.

In the same effect, Alcohol destroys memory of the skilled people out of moral nature with motor substance that affect the brain box. In the light of this, the glorious Quran unequivocally states that Satan is but mankind’s enemy but one of the means through which Satan spread enmity and mischievous act is through alcoholic intake. That is why Quran chapter 2, verse 90 and 91 emphasized thus,

O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist? (Muhammad Taqi-ud-deen and Mausin Khan Qur’?n 2: 90-91)

It is essential to note that, Alcohol affects the mind to underestimate the gravity of sin especially shielding human blood unnecessarily. This research confirms that most of the kidnapper and executioner were accustom to alcoholic intake such as, Methamphetamine, Tramol, Tranabolic steroids, Club drug, Cocaine, Heroin, Inhalant, Burukutu, Marijuana, and narcotic wine.

It is pertinent to be mentioned that kidnappers in most cases carried out this onerous act after hard drug consumption. In order to reduce the menace of kidnapping and other detrimental vices, government should take proactive measure with guiding principle that will prevent the negative impact of alcohol in Nigeria. In other word, government should enact a law to stop selling and consumption of hard drugs and intoxicant that is powerful enough to jeopardize thinking faculty.

The rate at which innocent life has been muddled through the menace of kidnapping and abduction in Nigeria is worrisome because the impact of kidnapping is becoming excruciating in Nigerians to the extent that everyone is sleeping with one eye open. This scenario has intimidated both national and international investors to establish in Nigeria which incur unbearable economic recession.

Meanwhile, the position of Islam on the threat of keeping people hostage to take ransom in exchange of their life or kidnapping them for rituals is very clear because the glorious Qur’an condemned any form of hurting people without legal consent.

Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment. And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin. (Yusuf Ali: Q33: 57-58)

Therefore, this study discovers that the pestilence of kidnapping in Nigeria especially in the current administration is like insidious cankerworm to the extent that no one in Nigeria irrespective of their age and political influence discerns who will be the next victim. In the light of above scrutiny, the study finds that, unemployment, poverty, ritual and spiritual proclivity, political parochialism, insecurity and prevalence of alcoholic consumption are chief factors responsible for the widespread of kidnapping in Nigeria.

In essence, the paper put forward that if Nigeria government is sincerely looking for a way to assuage the menace of kidnapping, they must tighten their security to checkmate political campaign in order not to create monsters during election and the spiritual magnetism must be checked in order to curtail blood sacrifice. Federal government must also agree that unemployment is the yardstick of all crimes and detrimental vices in Nigeria.