The firm said that as far back as 2014, the operation of the notorious terrorist group Boko Haram was influenced by their ideology which was against Western education. It added that the motives for persistent abductions in the country have changed over time.
A report released by a research consultancy firm, SBM Intelligence has claimed that terrorists and non-state actors in the country now abduct schoolchildren to survive the current economic hardship in the country.
The firm said that as far back as 2014, the operation of the notorious terrorist group Boko Haram was influenced by their ideology which was against Western education. It added that the motives for persistent abductions in the country have changed over time.
The report said, “The root causes of this kidnapping crisis are complex. First is economic hardship. High inflation and a struggling economy push individuals towards desperate measures like kidnapping. Second, Nigeria’s security architecture is weak. The Nigerian security apparatus suffers from internal sabotage and a lack of resources, making it difficult to combat kidnappings effectively. Third, there is the breakdown of trust. Some state officials collaborate with kidnappers, further eroding public faith in institutions.
“The persistence of the kidnap epidemic underscores the failure of the state to fulfil its primary obligation of ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. Until meaningful action is taken to address the root causes of the problem, such as economic instability and institutional corruption, kidnapping will continue to plague the country.
“As of 2014, when Boko Haram introduced the abduction of school children as a weapon of choice, its motivation was driven by its fanatical jihadism and ideological opposition to Western education, especially for girls, which it believes serve only home-making function under Sharia Law. Those motivations still exist, but given the state of the Shekau faction, JAS, its purpose has shifted to survival.”
The report added that in other parts of the country, bandit gangs are responsible for mass abductions.
For instance, in rural Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, kingpins instruct gang members to raid villages for two significant reasons: failure to pay imposed levies and the need for manpower in the farms owned and controlled by the bandit kingpins.
Apart from home invasions, roads are a major centre for coordinated mass abductions, which are done to extract the highest ransom possible.
“The attack on the AK-9 Train on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail in March 2022 may have had ideological components as part of the drivers. Still, for the bandits who facilitated surveillance and reconnaissance efforts for the jihadists, the allure of high-profile victims was underpinned by their ransom value.
“A mass abduction of people travelling on a bus puts pressure on at least two parties during ransom negotiations: families of the victims as well as the transport companies. This scenario involves stakes slightly lower than the abduction of school children, as it introduces an additional layer of pressure from the government,” the report added.
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