Ritual Kidnapping, National Security and Economic Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has been suffering from different security challenges ranging from kidnapping/ ritual killing/ to insurgencies and ethno-religious violence with their attendant effects on national security and development Yet many Nigerlans attributed the recent liquidation of local and foreign industries to the present economic situation in the country neglecting the adverse effects of insecurity on economic development. Thus/ this paper examines the relationship between ritual kidnapping/ national security and economic development in Nigeria. Building the study on Hirschi's Control Theory, ten (10) respondents/ both males and temetes. were conveniently selected from three different locations in florin for qualitative iatervtew: fn depth interview reveals ritual kidnapping as a threat to lives/ national security and economic development; foreign investors are discouraged because of kidnapping and ski/led laborers are lost to ritual kidnapping. Therefore/ the research recommends that the offence of ritual killing and ritual kidnapping should be distinguished from murder in the Criminal and Penal Code and punishable with death by crucifixion for the perpetrators as well as their accomplice for public deterrence. National security agencies must also renew their sincerity in strictly performing their statutory duties in order to guarantee public safety to attract foreign investors and tourists to further improve national security and economic development.