SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the spatial distribution and socio-economic consequences of kidnapping in Nigeria. The work adopted the descriptive approach and looked at the triggers and effects of kidnapping on public safetyand national security. The study used secondary datacollected from peer review publications, government and security reports.It covers a period of 2024-2025, andused ArcGIS version 10.8 for the production of maps.A total of 997 kidnapping incidents was recorded between 2024-2025 with the North-West zone having425 incidents of all the nationalrecorded cases. This zone was closely followed by North-Central zone with 255 cases. The North-East has 61 cases, while South-South and South-East zones each recorded 107and 96 incidents respectively. South-West zone had the fewest number of kidnapping incidents with 53 cases.The sum of forty-eight billion, fifty-three million(N48, 053, 000,000)naira was demanded as ransom by kidnappers, while two billion, five hundred and sixty-six million (N2, 566, 000,000) naira was paid to kidnappers for the release of victims across the six geopolitical zones of the country for the period under review. Deaths, economic stagnation, emotional ordeal and financial burdenand trust in governance are some of the negative impacts of kidnapping. The research indicates that the socio-economic fallouts of kidnapping transcend far beyond the primary victims and their immediate households. It recommends that governments at all levels shoulddismantle and shatter criminal recruitment networks by initiating and financing grassroots economic initiatives. It also recommended the introduction and enforcement of the application of geospatial intelligence into the operational activities of all security agencies; as well as strengthen prosecution, judicial efficiency, and enforcement of anti-kidnapping laws among others.