Militancy and Kidnapping in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria; A Recap

Abstract

The Niger Delta of Nigeria is the largest mangrove Forest in Africa and the chief source of wealth to the Nigeria state. This naturally endowed region has become a hot bed of hostage taking, violence, insurgency, crude oil bunkering and gang war. This paper writes on the causes and effects of militancy and kidnapping in the Niger Delta region, its implication on Nigeria economy and transnational cooperating in the region. The study adopts the Marxian political economy approach. It relied heavily on primary data. The study reveals that the tensions that rob the region of its peace and stability were the long years of neglect and the people’s quest to get a reasonable share of the states resources. The study also examine the role of the Nigeria state in ameliorating the situation. It recommends that current measures at restoring peace and infusing a massive infrastructure in the area should be maintained. Lastly, the provision of life sustaining skills for the youths of the region should be continued. This will enable the youths to survive without recourse to militancy and kidnapping.