Poverty-Kidnapping Nexus: Study in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the nexus between the two variables (poverty and kidnapping) in Katsina State. The study adopted social structure and anomie theory as a frame of theoretical analysis on the nexus between poverty and kidnapping in the study area. Methodologically, the study is a survey research design, which involves going to the field to gather the opinions of respondents on the subject matter. Both primary and secondary data are used in the study. The targeted population of the study include residents of the study area of 18 years and above, community leaders, security agents like the military, the police, civil defense and vigilante groups. Data was collected from sample size of 405 respondents. Questionnaire and IDI were the instruments of data collection. The technique of data analysis was mixed method (quantitative and qualitative). The study found that poverty leads to kidnapping and vice versa because the problem is subjecting people to serious economic losses.  Both quantitative and qualitative data indicated that there is no commonality of the factors responsible for kidnapping across the various LGAs in Katsina State, but poverty plays important role. Other factors leading to kidnapping in addition to poverty in the study include; lack of education, poor parenting and loss of social values. To address the problems of poverty and kidnapping the study area, the study recommends State and national governments should address the major driving factors of kidnapping and poverty in Katsina State, such as unemployment and corruption; the national government should collaborate with the State Government to bring to an end kidnaping in Katsina State; community leaders should revive the past practice of traditional ruler-ship in which the community is aware of every movement in the area and any suspicious movement is furtively reported to the community leaders, etc.