NATURE OF KIDNAPPING AND ARMED BANDITRY IN NIGER DELTA REGION: IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ABSTRACT
The study is on the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region: implication for national security. The study focused mainly on the period 2009-2018 being the period there was prevalence of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region and these threatens the national security. It analysed and adopted the Queer Ladder Theory as a framework for the study.
The data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were gathered through questionnaire and interview while the secondary data were gotten from both published and unpublished materials. The data were presented in tables while the results were express as percentages and approximated to the nearest whole numbers.
The study established that environmental concern poverty and unemployment are issues associated with kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta for national security. Kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region has negative implications on national security. This includes economic implication, impact on industrialization and social implication. The challenges of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta for national security environmental degradation, Increase rate of poverty and high rate of unemployment in the Niger Delta. In spite of these challenges, some prospects of mitigating kidnapping and armed banditry are still abounding for national security. These include Ogoni Cleanup and Establishment of Operation DELTA SAFE.

Based on its findings, the study recommended that the FGN should set up a committee saddled with the responsibility of drawing modalities for the implementation of ACHPR AND UNEP recommendation by the Fourth Quarter of 2019. The FGN should constitute a committee that comprise of relevant stakeholders that will come up with modalities on how to create enabling environment for adequate creation of wealth for the Niger Delta region by the Fourth Quarter of 2019.The FGN should set up a committee that will come up with attainable and sustainable measures of improving job creation and taking clue from the failure of past efforts by the Fourth Quarter of 2019.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

 Background…………………………………………………………………............. 1

Statement of the Problem …………………………………………….......................3

Objective of the Study ………………………………………………………........... 4

Significance of the Study ……………………………………………...…………… 5

Scope of the Study …………….……………………………………………............ 5

Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………………. 6

Notes…………………………………………………………………....................... 7

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Conceptual of Discourse……………………………………..........……………….. 8

Concept Kidnapping and Armed Banditry……….…..…………………………….. 8

 Concept of National Security……………………………………………………… 10

Relationship Between Kidnapping and Armed Banditry and National Security....... 11

 Review of Existing Literature……………………………………………………..... 12

Theoretical Frame Work…………………………………………………………...... 15

Notes…………………………………………………………………………...…..... 17

CHAPTER 3

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design …………………………………………………..……………….. 19

Area of Study……………………………………………………………………….. 19

Sample and Sampling Technique…………………………………...…………........ 20

Instrument of Data Collection……………………………………………................ 20

Validations of Instruments…………………………………………………………. 21

Reliability of Instrument……………………………………………………………. 21

Method of Data Collection and Data Analysis.……………………………………. 22

Note………………………………………………………………………………… 24

CHAPTER 4

 ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE OF KIDNAPPING AND ARMED BANDITRY IN NIGER DELTA REGION: IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

Overview of Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in the Niger Delta …………............ 25

 Data Presentation ………………………………………………………………….... 27

Issues Associated With Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in The Niger Delta for

National Security......................................................................................................... 27

Environmental Concern…………….…...............................……..........…………... 28

Poverty……………………………………………………………………………. 29

Unemployment…………………………………………………………………….. 32

Implications Of Kidnapping And Armed Banditry In The Niger Delta For National Security..................................................................................................................... 34

 Economic Implication………………………………………………………………. 34

Impact on Industrialization…………………………………………………………. 35

Social Implication…………………………………………………………………. 36

 Summary of Findings……………………………………………………………... 36

Challenges of Kidnapping and Armed Banditry In The Niger Delta For National Security...................................................................................................................... 37

Environmental Degradation………………………………………………………… 37

Increase Rate of Poverty …………………………………………………………… 40

 High Rate of Unemployment in the Niger Delta ……………………………….. 42

 Prospects of Mitigating Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in the Niger Delta on

National Security …………………………………………………………….….…. 44

Clean-Up of Ogoni Land…………………..………..………..…………………... 44

Operation Delta Safe……………………………………………………………… 45

Ways to Mitigating the Challenge Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in the Niger Delta

on National Security.......................................................................................................... 46

Management of Environmental Degradation…………………….…………………. 47

Reduction in Poverty Rate in the Niger Delta…………………………………….. 48

Employment Creation ……………..…………………………………………….. 49

 Note…………………………………………………………………………………. 51

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion..…………………………………………………………………... ……. 54

Recommendations ……………………………………………………............ ……. 57

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books………………………………………………………………………………. 58

Periodicals/Journals………………………………………………………....... ……. 58

Official Publications………………………………………………….............. ……. 59

Unpublished Materials……………………………………………………….. ……. 60

Internet……………………………………………………………………….. ……. 61

Newspaper………………………………………………………………………… 61

LIST OF TABLES

 Table 4.1:  Responses to if Environmental concerns is an issue for  Kidnapping and Armed Banditry in the Niger Delta for National Security
   CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.    In the post Cold War era, most nations of the world are confronted with series of internal security challenges. These internal security challenges take the form of terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and armed banditry amongst other. Kidnapping and Armed banditry are threats to the national security. Countries like Belgium, Brazil, and Mexico are faced with the challenge of kidnapping and armed banditry which threatens their national security.
2.    Mexico in 2017, witness increase in kidnapping and armed banditry cases.1 Between Jan and Mar 18, almost 400 people were kidnapped and this has resulted in the death of several locals and foreigners in major cities of Mexico.2 The kidnapping and armed banditry challenge threatens the nation�s security. These cases are also attainable in some Africa countries like Mali, Somalia, Libya and Nigeria amongst other.
3.    The kidnapping and armed banditry challenges are prevalent in Libya since the post-Ghadafi era. The Libyan Red Crescent Society documented the
kidnapping of more than 600 people between Feb and Apr 2015 and this has resulted in the death of hundreds of people.3 Nigeria is also not impervious from kidnapping and armed banditry. Nigeria like other African country experience continuous security threats of kidnapping and armed banditry. Kidnapping and armed banditry threatens the socio-economic, environmental and political setting of Nigeria particularly Niger Delta region.
4.    Kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region is major security challenge because of its impacts. Nigeria recoded 56 per cent of all kidnapping and armed banditry reported in Africa in 2016, ahead of nations like Libya, and Egypt.3 The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have been engaged in the curtailment of these challenges and has recorded tremendous success. However, these successes are hampered by some challenges.
5.    The purpose of this study therefore, is to examine the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger delta region and its implication for national security. Experience from other countries suggests kidnapping and armed banditry could affect the national security. Accordingly, this research is borne out of the desire to examine the implication for national security.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
 6.    Kidnapping and armed banditry has grown over the years as an industry involving every level of the society and motivated by many reasons. In recent time, Niger Delta region has been enduring under some environmental conditions since Independence. This has resulted to the increase in kidnapping and armed banditry in the region and this has threatened the national security.
7.    The AFN has made tremendous success in its efforts against these challenges through its various operations like Operation DELTA SAFE. However the porosity of Nigeria borders, lack of technical equipment and weak government policy hampers these efforts. It is against this backdrop, that this study seeks to provide answers to the following research questions.
a.    What is the relationship between nature of kidnapping and armed banditry and national security in Nigeria?
b.    What are the issues associated with nature of kidnapping and armed banditry and national security in Nigeria?
c.    What are the impact of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry on national security in Nigeria?
d.    What are the challenges of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry on national security in Nigeria?
e.    What are the prospects of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry for national security in Nigeria?
f.    What are the ways of mitigating the challenges of the nature kidnapping and armed banditry on national security in Nigeria?
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
8.    The main objective of this study is to evaluate the implication of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region on national security. However, the specific objectives are to:
a.    Establish the relationship between the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry and national security in Nigeria.
b.    Examine issues associated with the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry and national security in Nigeria.
c.    Examine the impact of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry on national security.
d.    Discuss the challenges of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry on national security in Nigeria.
e.    Highlight the prospects of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry for national security in Nigeria.
f.    Proffer ways of mitigating the challenges of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry on national security in Nigeria.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
9.    It is expected to be of immense benefits to Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Headquarters (DHQ),
Army Headquarters (AHQ), Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQNAF) and relevant stakeholders as it would serve as reference material for policy improvement and formulation of new ones.
10.    The findings and recommendations of this study will also be useful to researchers who may find it valuable for further studies. It will inspire further research interests in this field particularly as regards the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry and its implication on national security.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
11.    This study will examine the implication of the nature of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region on the national security. It will cover the period between 2009 and 2018. This period is chosen because there was prevalence of kidnapping and armed banditry in the Niger Delta region and these threatens the national security.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
12.    The study could be limited by the restrictive nature of documents dealing with security issues in Nigeria. One obvious constraint that could be encountered in the course of the study could be the bias responses, poor response rate, and influence towards what some of the interviewee could feel that the researcher is looking for.
 13.    However, these constraints will not affect the quality and reliability of the research as they shall be overcome through objective and empirical analysis of the content of the data sourced from both primary and secondary sources. The researcher nevertheless will make efforts to overcome these limitations by obtaining detail information from the personalities that will be interviewed and documents consulted. Thus, the quality and validity of the study was considerably unaffected.
ENDNOTE
1.    I Kyrian. Intelligence Reports and Kidnapping (Dawn, 2009) p. 9.
2.    Ibid p.11
3.    P Alison Kidnapping and Murders Targeting Foreigners in Libya https://ctc.usma.edu/kidnappings-and-murders-targeting-foreigners-in-libya/ (accessed 6 Oct 18)
3.    UE Abraham The Social Problem of Kidnapping and its Implication on the Socio- economic Development: A Case Study of Uyo Metropolis, (Unpublished M.Sc. Dissertation, University of Uyo, Nigeria. 2016