In a distressing escalation of kidnapping in Nigeria, a group of six pupils, three teachers, and a driver were kidnapped by gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, in Ekiti State. The victims, associated with Apostolic Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti, were abducted while returning from Eporo-Ekiti. The kidnappers have since demanded a N30 million ransom for their release.

This incident occurred shortly after the tragic killing of two monarchs in the region, highlighting a worrying trend of violence and abduction. The Ekiti State Police Command, in collaboration with local security forces, has arrested five suspects linked to these kidnappings. Despite these efforts, the community remains on edge, fearing further attacks.

President Bola Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji have both pledged to intensify efforts to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped individuals and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The kidnapping has sparked a broader conversation on the state of security in Nigeria, with calls for immediate action to address the rising tide of violence and criminality.

The incident has also prompted a response from the educational community, with the Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union holding a peace walk to demand government action to secure the release of the abducted pupils and restore safety in educational environments.

As Nigeria grapples with this crisis, the need for a robust and coordinated approach to tackle insecurity has never been more urgent. The government’s commitment to fortifying the nation’s security architecture is a step in the right direction, but the persistent threat of kidnappings and violence requires continuous vigilance and action.

Background of Kidnapping in Nigeria

Kidnapping has evolved into a significant challenge in Nigeria, marking one of the most organized forms of gang crime and posing a national security threat. The inception of political kidnappings traces back to the early 2000s within the Niger Delta’s petroleum industry. Here, local agitators targeted expatriates from multinational oil companies, demanding community development projects or negotiations for greater economic benefits for the region from the revenues accruing to the federal treasury.

The scenario worsened with the emergence of Boko Haram kidnappings in 2009, predominantly in Nigeria’s northeast and northwest, aligning with the regional conflicts. The jihadist terror group Boko Haram’s abductions have been aimed at furthering its agenda, recruiting fighters, instilling fear, gaining international attention, and coercing the government into negotiations for ransoms, thus funding its terrorist operations. Among its notorious acts was the 2014 mass kidnapping of 276 teenage girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State, an event that garnered global media coverage and highlighted the extent of the insurgency. Boko Haram’s demands often involve ransom payments or the release of their prisoners, and they have been known to forcibly recruit, marry off young female victims, and even use kidnapped youths for suicide bombings.

The issue of kidnapping broadened to a commercial scale by 2011, pervading all 36 states and the capital, Abuja. By February 2021, the situation had prompted Nigerian journalist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani to remark in a BBC News article that the Nigerian government appears to have conceded its inability to ensure the safety of its citizens, indicating a dire need for effective measures to combat this escalating crisis.