In March this year, gangs of armed men on motorcycles descended on a school in north-western state of Kaduna in Nigeria, kidnapping over 280 children. In the same week a similar mass kidnapping took place in the north-eastern state of Borno.

Over the past few years, kidnappings have been a real issue in Nigeria, but have recently been in decline.

So, who is behind these kidnappings? And why are they targeting these communities?

Kidnappings have contributed to the rise in extortion and protection racketeering in Nigeria, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, it is the highest in West Africa at 8/10.

Overall, Nigeria has very high levels of criminality - on the African continent it sits 2nd and 6th globally, with a score of 7.28 out of 10.

Presenter: Thin Lei Win

Speakers:

Kingsley L. Madueke, Nigeria Research Coordinator, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Lawan Danjuma Adamu, Northern Nigeria Field Coordinator, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime

Links:

https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/mass-abductions-kidnappings-nigeria/

https://riskbulletins.globalinitiative.net/wea-obs-005/01-armed-bandits-extort-crop-farmers.html

https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/non-state-armed-groups-illicit-economies-west-africa/

OC Index Country profiles:

Nigeria Country Profile

The Global Organized Crime Index

GITOC - West Africa and the Sahel Observatory (WEA-Obs)

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime