Implication of Banditary and Kidnapping on Public Safety and Development in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the influence of banditry and kidnapping for
ransom in Nigeria: the implication for public safety and grassroot development in
Ikerre LGA in Ekiti State. The objective of the study was to investigate the causes
of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria, to survey the social effects of kidnapping on
the people and community development in Nigeria, to examine economic
implications of kidnapping for ransom on the development of communities in
Nigeria, and finally, to examine the challenging effects of kidnapping on the psychological wellbeing of the people in Nigeria. In order to achieve the objectives
of this study, four research questions and hypotheses were raised and formulated, answered and tested respectively. The study adopted a survey research design. The
population of study of this research is made up of the total number of people residing
in Ikerre LGA of Ekiti State while the target population of the study is the residence
of Ikerre Local Government which is 148,558. The sample size of this study is 200
respondents. The instrument used for the collection of data was the questionnaire which was administered to a total number of 200 respondents and 175 was retrieved.
The data from the survey was analyzed using simple percentage and Pearson Product
Correlation Coefficient. The study revealed that the major the causes of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria is poverty and unemployment. Moreso, the study reveals that increase in the rate of insecurity is a major social effect of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria