Kidnapping and Victimization Experiences Among Commuters on the Ado-Akure Federal Road: Implications for Public Safety and Transportation Security in Nigeria (Published)

Kidnapping has become a rampant and disturbing issue in Nigeria, especially along major transportation routes, creating lasting physical, psychological, and emotional consequences for victims. This study examines the experiences of kidnapping and victimization among commuters on the Ado-Akure Federal Road, exploring the dynamics of the crime, the tactics employed by kidnappers, and the profound impact on victims. Employing a qualitative approach, the study gathers primary data through in-depth interviews with victims and key informants to understand the lived experiences of those affected. The findings reveal the brutal methods used by kidnappers, including violent attacks, emotional manipulation, and the creation of an atmosphere of constant fear. Victims shared their traumatic experiences, recounting incidents of physical abuse, witnessing executions, and enduring sexual violence, with particular emphasis on the experiences of female commuters. Additionally, the study highlights the deep psychological toll on victims, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, and a general mistrust of others. The research underscores the critical need for effective interventions to address the increasing prevalence of kidnapping and victimization. Policy recommendations include strengthening security along critical transportation routes, improving legal responses to kidnapping, and establishing comprehensive victim support systems, including psychological counseling. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the rising insecurity in Nigeria, particularly focusing on the experiences of victims of kidnapping, and advocates for a more victim-centered approach to policy formulation and implementation in order to enhance public safety and national security.

Keywords: Insecurity, Victimization, commuters, kidnapping, psychological trauma, public safety, ransom

Fatal Attraction: Social Isolation Intensifying Kidnapping in the Niger Delta Region (Published)

Kidnapping in the Niger Delta has become a social phenomenon which is now increasingly common in its operations. The lucrative and mesological nature of the crime has made it a copycat form of criminality, with a proliferation of an anticipatory socialization process. However, economic inequality depicts that Individuals are easily cajoled to copy the criminal act, because it is a cheap avenue to survive without having to commit murder. This paper sheds light on kidnapping by untangling the gripping issues with atrocious accounts in the Niger Delta region, as factors fostering the strife and ascendancy of kidnapping in the region. This paper used academic literature as a tool for historical revionism to expose the deprived state of the Niger Delta region, which underscores with the intention of kidnapping being eradicable in nature. However, some points were shared as recommendations for clamping down the skyrocketing operations of kidnapping in the Niger Delta region.    

Keywords: Militancy, Niger-Delta, crude oil, kidnapping