1.1 Introduction
Kidnapping is adjudged to be unlawful detention of persons through the instrument of force, threat, fraud or enticement for different political and socio-economic reasons. It has become one of the major security threats to Nigeria as a sovereign entity. School Children Abduction appears to be one of the most technical and most lucrative in nature, considering the fact that a lot of people are involved unannounced. Kidnappers have a powerful mode of operation which creates fear in individuals because they are uncertain of the next person to be abducted. The operators of armed robbery can kidnap immediate family members and divulge all round information about whoever is their target. Kidnapping is not new in Nigeria and is one of the challenges facing the country at present.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Since the episode of the civil war between 1967 and 1970, the corporate existence of the country has not been threatened as obtainable in this fourth republic dispensation. Kidnapping became alarming in the Niger Delta region when militants in February, 2006, abducted some oil workers ostensibly to draw global attention to the deplorable situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of the country. Since then, kidnapping has spread to most parts of the country, especially the south-eastern and south-southern regions of Nigeria. The targets are no longer oil workers or foreigners alone; every Nigerian is now a target. In fact, the safety of persons in Nigeria and their property cannot be guaranteed owing to the near daily incidence of kidnapping.
Once seen as a foreign problem, today the practice of kidnapping and ransom seeking has spread across the country affecting everyone irrespective of the societal class, threatening national peace and security of the country (Dodo, 2010; Ibrahim & Mukhtar, 2017). It is against the foregoing security dilemma caused by kidnapping in the country that this study examines how kidnapping of students and staff affected academic activities in Nigeria’s institutions of learning.
Abduction is a by-product of terrorism and social vices that have spread throughout the world. It is an endemic disease that has spread throughout Nigeria's states. It is a process of kidnapping people and holding them hostage in exchange for a ransom payment, abducting dates back to the 17th century in Britain, when children from wealthy families were kidnapped for "ransom while sleeping (nap)". Abducting is a notorious and nefarious practice carried out by criminals with the intent of kidnapping and holding students hostage for a ransom payment. Student kidnapping is a nefarious, villainous, terrible, and seasonal crime that threatens Nigeria's security. Authorities say "bandits," a loose term for kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers, Fulani herdsmen, and other armed militia operating in the region who are primarily motivated by money, have attacked schools in the north-west.
In the face of widespread insecurity of lives and property, no nation can achieve long-term development. The threat of supranational insecurity posed by organized high-profile crimes perpetrated through transnational syndication and racketeering has always posed a threat to nations' survival. Corruption, terrorism, ritualism, extrajudicial killings, kidnapping, religious and electoral violence are all rampant in Nigeria today. These problems have wreaked havoc on the economy, security, and human lives. Scholars have identified the devastating effects that insecurity issues have on a country's economic development and have called for the fight against insecurity to be bolstered.
Boko Haram's ideology includes a strong opposition to secular education, and the group has gained notoriety for its repeated attacks on schools and universities, as well as teachers, administrators, and students, wreaking havoc on an already fragile educational system. Boko Haram has killed an estimated 2,295 teachers, and the conflict has forced over 19,000 teachers to flee their homes. More than 1,400 schools have been destroyed, damaged, or looted, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), with more than 600,000 children losing access to education (UNICEF, 2017). The targeted attacks on schools by Boko Haram, as well as the kidnapping of schoolchildren, have harmed students' access to education.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Naira Redesign in Reducing Kidnapping.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the abduction of Dapchi is a stark reminder that girls and women in Nigerian schools are still vulnerable to violence. For decades, the north of Nigeria has been marginalized, and this, combined with widespread corruption, deep poverty, and a lack of trust in the government, has undoubtedly fueled the conflict and contributed to its devastating consequences. The emergency has also put additional strain on an already strained and failing educational system. It also highlights Nigerian security forces' ongoing struggle to provide adequate protection for schools in the northeast and prevent female students from being kidnapped.
In addition to political leadership failure and other systemic institutional uncertainties / irregularities in Nigeria, a lack of proactive security planning has resulted in a recurrent and diverse set of school-related insecurity issues.
The importance of adequately securing vulnerable school environments cannot be overstated, as no nation grows beyond its level of educational development. The entire educational system, as well as its infrastructure, must be secured. One of the most pressing issues confronting modern states is how to ensure national security in the face of numerous and ever-increasing security threats.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Naira Redesign in Reducing Kidnapping in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the relationship between Naira design and kidnapping in Nigeria;
- To examined the impact of Naira redesign in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria; and
- To find out the effectiveness of Naira redesign in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there a relationship between Naira design and kidnapping in Nigeria?
- Is Naira redesign effective in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria?
- What is the impact of Naira redesign in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant impact of Naira redesign in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria.
- H1: There is a significant impact of Naira redesign in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no relationship between Naira design and kidnapping in Nigeria.
- H1: There is a relationship between Naira design and kidnapping in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: Naira redesign is not effective in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria.
- H1: Naira redesign is effective in reducing kidnapping in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Effect of Naira Redesign in Reducing Kidnapping in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Currency Redesign: Redesigning currencies is an activity for sovereign nations. It allows the currency-issuing country to improve the currency’s security to deter counterfeiting
Kidnapping: Kidnapping is adjudged to be unlawful detention of persons through the instrument of force, threat, fraud or enticement for different political and socio-economic reasons.
Banditry: Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence.
Abduction: Is the unlawful transportation and confinement of a person against their will. It can include anything from tying someone up, gagging them, or stuffing them in a box. The abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear.
Educational Development: Educational development is the ongoing evolution of teaching and learning across the entire university. It is both theory and practice, both a discipline and a profession and both with clarity and uncertainty.
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