ABSTRACT
This study is on domestic terrorism and national security in Nigeria: a critical analysis of hostage-taking and kidnapping. The total population for the study is 200 residents of selected local government in Bayelsa state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made youths, men, women and civil servants was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Security in any society can be achieved in a tranquil situation devoid of threats to lives and property. Some of these threats are terrorism, political instability, environmental degradation, economic meltdown, religious intolerance, to mention a few. Amongst these threats, domestic terrorism has currently drawn the attention of the world as developed and developing countries faced with threats of domestic terrorism (Peterside 2014: 283). Terrorism is not a new phenomenon and not a sole preserve of any class, clan, religion or race. Terrorism dates back to the era of the Roman Empire when Roman Emperors used terrorism to control domestic dissents and eliminate suspected enemies (Oche 2007:11). In the First Century AD, the Scarii” referred to as“ Dagger Men” employed terrorism to oppose Roman domination of the land of Judea (Oche 2007:11). In the eleventh and twelfth Centuries,“ Hashasheen”, a terrorist group in Northern Iraq, systematically assassinated Muslim and Christian leaders (Oche 2007:11). Terrorism gained prominence in the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror (1793-1794) where the government ruled through violence and fear (McCauley 1991:8). State terrorism as exhibited in France, “also formed part of domestic terrorism when state actors (police, military, etc.) resorted to acts of terror against their own nationals (Oloo 2009). In 1894, Auguste Valliant threw a bomb into the chambers of Deputies in Paris, an action which led to his execution in the same 1984 (Wardlaw 1982: 22). The execution of Auguste was avenged a week later with the explosion of a bomb in a café in Paris which led to twenty people being injured, one of whom later died. The president of France, Sadi Carnot, was also assassinated the same year, in reaction to the execution of Auguste (Wardlaw 1982: 22). In Russia, domestic terrorism was both one aspect of the formation of a revolutionist party and a symptom of a general crisis within the Russian society (Wardlaw 1982: 19). This new wave of terror in Russia opened in1902 with the assassination of Sipyagin, the Minister of Interior (Oloo 2009). The assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Rabin, in Tel Aviv on the fourth of November1995, was an act of domestic terrorism. The assassination was aimed at stopping the Israeli peace process with Palestine because the assassin said that he
‘did not approve of the conceding of Israelilands to the Arabs, especially settlements like Gaza Strip (Oche 2007:64). In India, the attack by militants on the four Hindu families in Waridhama, killing 23 men, women and children on the 25th of January, 1998 was a demonstrated case of domestic terrorism (Oche 2007:25). In August 2004,2 New York City natives were arrested for planning to blow up the 34 Street Subway Station in the heartland of Manhattan’s Herald Square. The two had no known ties with Al-Qaeda or any organization, hence an official of the New York Police Department (NYPD) classified the incident as a “home-grown, lone-wolf incident” (Okumu and Botha 2008:15).In Africa, there have been several incidences of terrorism in various forms or another. For instance, the August 1998 bombings of the Embassy of the United States in Kenya and Tanzania which killed hundreds; the October 2002 Soweto bombings by the White Supremacist Boermag Organization in South Africa and the October 2004 bomb blast at Egyptian tourist resorts that killed 28 people, to mention but a few (Lumina 2008: 11). Nigeria today is under serious threats of domestic terrorism emanating from the restive youths of the Niger-Delta and the recurrent attacks on the state by the Boko Haram Insurgents (Oloo 2009). The youths resorted to the disruption of oil production, pipeline vandalism, hostage-taking, kidnaping, assault and bombing of oil installations to fight for the perceived injustice in the distribution of the oil wealth (Ogundiya2009). Boko Haram on the other hand have created for themselves a multivaried image by the incessant bombings with the impunity and horrific portrayal of people burnt to ashes, maimed and properties wantonly destroyed with the recent kidnapping of 234 girls from a secondary school in the country (Blanchard 2014:5; Ogege 2013:82).The hostage-taking and kidnapping of foreigners in the Niger-Delta region made the FederalGovernment lose about N570 billion ($4.4 billion) in revenue as at 2006 (Ogundiya 2009). Also in2006, more than 60 foreigners, mostly oil workers, were kidnapped but later released (Ifidian2009:34). This later spread to other parts of the country, for instance, the kidnapping of Pa Simeon Soludo (the father of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was kidnapped on the 27th October, 2009, in the South-East, Anambra State (Anyanwu 2009:6). Foremost Nollywood actors- Pete Edochie and Nkem Owoh were kidnapped in August 2009 (Ifidian 2009:3; Amatus 2009:8). In the North West, the Secretary to the Government of Kaduna State, Mr. WajeYayok, was kidnapped in September 2009 as well (Omipidan 2009:8).The incidents of domestic terrorism, especially hostage-taking and kidnapping impinge on the national security of the country as the act instilled fear and uncertainty in the minds of the citizenry, thereby inhibiting investment and development and constituting a threat to national security. This spate of kidnapping which has adversely affected the psyche of Nigerians has become a serious source of concern. It was therefore as a result of this concern that a resolution was taken by the House of Representatives asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to mobilize security votes available to checkmate hostage-taking and kidnapping as well as related crimes (Oraetoka 2009). Apart from creating fear and insecurity in the country, the incidences of hostage-taking and kidnapping virtually affected any positive development that was to take place. If according to McNamara (2005:48) that national security is development and development is national security, then, the menace of hostage taking and kidnapping should be tackled head-on (2005:48). The concern of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards finding a solution to domestic terrorism has therefore motivated the researcher into undertaking a critical analysis of hostage-taking and kidnaping in this dissertation
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nigeria, as a country, is under internal security threats occasioned by acts of domestic terrorism which greatly affects the nation
’
s stability and well-being (Ogundiya 2009:31). Prominent among these acts of domestic terrorism are ethno-religious fighting, violent and un-abated attacks in the oil-rich Niger-Delta, small arms proliferation, hostage-taking and kidnapping, bombing and wanton destruction of property (Ogundiya 2009:31-32). Domestic terrorism, especially hostage taking and kidnapping negate security and where there is no security, anarchy strives and there is no development. There is an urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to curb hostage-taking and kidnapping due to the consequent threat to national security. Any threat to the national security will definitely have far-reaching negative consequences on Nigeria’s foreign image, the country as a whole and the world at large
- OBJECTVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- Establish the relationship between domestic terrorism and national security
- Examine the impact of hostage-taking and kidnapping on the national security of Nigeria
- Identify the issues encountered by the various security agencies in combating the incidence of hostage taking and kidnapping in Nigeria and proffer strategies to address these issues.
1.4RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;
H0: there is no relationship between domestic terrorism and national security
H1: there is relationship between domestic terrorism and national security
H02: there is no impact of hostage-taking and kidnapping on the national security of Nigeria
H2: there is impact of hostage-taking and kidnapping on the national security of Nigeria
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of the study is that the findings of this research would contribute to policy input for members of the Security Council at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. Secondly, the findings would be useful to the various security agencies such as the Nigerian Police, State Security Services and their operatives who are directly charged with the onerous task of maintenance of law and order as well as members of the armed forces. This research will also be useful to members of the media especially defence and security correspondents who report issues related to national security. Finally it would contribute to the existing body of knowledge on domestic terrorism and hostage-taking as well as provoke further research interest on the subject matter
- SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers Domestic Terrorism and National Security in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of Hostage-Taking and Kidnapping. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
TERRORISM: Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentionally indiscriminate violence as a means to create terror among masses of people; or fear to achieve a religious or political aim. It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence during peacetime or in war against non-combatants
NATIONAL SECURITY: National security is the security of a nation state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government.
HOSTAGE: A hostage is a person who is held by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against war
KIDNAPPING: In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful carrying away (asportation) and confinement of a person against their will. Thus, it is a composite crime.
