Let me start this presentation with the sincerity and genuineness of commitment that I attached with my role as the People’s Representative; a Go-Between the Masses and the Government. I am not oblivious of the fundamental responsibility of government to the people, that is, to provide security and welfare. To reiterate this fact, Section 14(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended declares that:
“the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

What this indicates is that if I do not take security serious then I will be neglecting my primary purpose of being elected to represent the good and hardworking people of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam in the House of Representatives. A symposium of this nature could not have come at any better time than this, considering the spate of insecurity across the various spectrums of our dear constituency and by extension its implication on National Security and the Development of our rural communities. To this extend, I consider this singular opportunity to share my THOUGHTS and ACTION on this topic as expedient. It is not just a topic for academic purpose but a Solution Driven Discussion.

The protection of lives and property is key. While death is inevitable, no mortal would embrace any callous death by any act of violence or social crime. In the words of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) in His Theories of Life and Death instincts that: “The Goal of all Life is Death”. That people channel their death instincts such as aggression towards one another for different purposes. This shows that the monster called kidnapping and other challenges are worrisome. The challenges of insecurity in Nigeria characterized by Kidnapping; Insurgency; Banditry; Ethno-Religious Clashes; and Disputes; Cultism; Ritual Killings; Armed Robbery; among others are alarming. These challenges in most or less of the cases often result in Aggression and Death.

No society and government can develop its people amidst insecurity. Sadly, the rural areas and their economy particularly in most Nigerian States have become the targets of kidnappers in recent times. What started in Nigeria as a “mere” hostage taking targeting foreigners in the oil rich Niger-Delta region has spread beyond the foreigners to include, the Rich Elites, Businessmen and the poor masses who hardly have stronger means of economic survival. For instance, millions of naira have been paid as ransom to secure the release of victims.

Nigeria in 2014 was ranked among the world’s top eight (8) kidnapping hotspots alongside war zones and failed states such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. For example in July 2009, 512 kidnap cases were reported in the mid-year compared with 353 for the whole of 2018 (Galadima, 2014). What this shows is that there is now a gradual shift from kidnapping of foreign oil companies expatriate workers by youths considered to be disenchanted with neglect of their communities by these companies; to kidnapping of Film Actors in Nollywood; to parents and children of prominent Nigerians, etc. It is now more worrisome that the kidnappers do not spare anybody – the rich and the poor; the young and the aged; the royal fathers; the farmer; the market trader; the school children; the teacher; the lawyer; the judge; the police and so on.

In Kanam Local Government Area and by extension Kanke and Pankshin, recent history has shown that the people have never been intimidated to live in fear and remorse like in the last couple of months.

WHAT IS KIDNAPPING?
First and foremost, kidnapping is a crime against the state and against humanity. To this extend, it has been generally defined in criminal law as the unlawful transportation, exportation and confinement of a person against their will. Kidnapping in Nigeria is thus:
… the unlawful detention of a person through the use of force, threats, fraud or enticement. The purpose is an illicit gain, economic or material in exchange for liberation (Chukwuma, 2019).

In Nigeria, kidnapping as a criminal act comes under the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 LFN 2004 and this has been operational in the 16 Southern Sates of the Federation where the criminal law was hitherto considered more appropriate. It will be recalled that the Senate in September 2017 passed a Bill which outlaws abduction, wrongful restraint or confinement for ransom. But it was only in July 2020 that the Senate considered the Criminal Code Amendment Bill aimed at making relevant changes to address the menace of kidnapping inter-alia in Nigeria. Several other States such as Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Rivers and Enugu have passed anti-kidnapping laws with clear penalties.

In all these laws, certain features are common about kidnapping, namely:
i. Confinement of any person against his/her will except as provided by law;
ii. False imprisonment by means of abduction;
iii. Use of force or intimidation to take a person away;
iv. Enticing a person into a vehicle willingly;
v. Taking a minor, a mentally derailed person or any disadvantaged person for force labour, detention in solitude or for personal gains.

WORRISOME NATURE OF KIDNAPPING IN KANAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT
By its very strategic location, Kanam is strategically located at the Central Zone of Plateau state sharing borders with Bauchi State and adjoining Local Governments extending their trade relations to Kano State, Taraba State, Adamawa State, Gombe State and so on. This means that the local government with an area of 2,600km2 and population of 165,898 at the 2006 census is a strategic route for economic growth. From early signs, the threat of kidnapping does not exclude any district and village in Kanam Local Government including Dengi town, Garga, Kantana, Bagyar, Bandiri, Bankilong, Basson, Bwalangyip, Gar-Duam, Gumshir, Guzuk, Gwomgwom, Kyansar, Munbutbo, Yalwa, Dugub, Gagdi, Gilong, Gyangyang, Zakkam, Bawas, Bribyang, Jarmai, Takzul, Wakkat-Mulas, Tipmong, Yugur, and all the other villages. Instances of already reported sad incidences of kidnapping in the Local Government are as follows:
S/No Kidnapped Victim/Location Date

1. The Pankwal Bogghom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Sulaiman Monday 20th April, 2020
2. Wife and child of the REKNA of Bashar Alhaji Adamu Idris –
3. Alhaji Umar Hayi in Dengi town 16 August, 2020
4. Fulani woman around the Kwalmiya, Gyambar, Bungudu general areas –
5. Dr. Idi Bukdah at his residence, Zungum 6th of June, 2020
6. Mr. Ibrahim Kafi at his residence, Gum-Gagdi 10th August, 2020
7. Mallam Muhammad Maikudi at his residence, Dengi town 13th August, 2020
8. Isiaka Garba Birni 26th March, 2020
9. Wife of Tafidan Ghal at Gum-Gagdi 16th March 2020
10. The wife of Alhaji Awal Jadji at his residence, Runji 20th July, 2020
    Source: ND Shehu Kanam – Open Letter to Leaders and Stakeholders in Respect of
    Spontaneous Incidents of Kidnapping in Kanam
    Deductions and analysis from the foregoing table about the nature of kidnapping in Kanam Local Government Area are made as follows:
    (a) That the primary targets of the kidnappers are the royal fathers and those that they perceived to have wealth either directly or indirectly to pay for ransom.
    (b) Access to escape routes from the points of kidnap taking advantages of remoteness of some of the locations have aided the kidnappers to scale away with their victims. This also means that the strategic location of Dengi town and its adjoining communities and villages paved way for “possibly” escaped elements of criminal activities in the North East to find solace for crime in the Local Government Area.
    (c) Despite the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the gradual ease of the lockdown, the kidnappers who might still be clustered within the Kanam general area have short ranges of operations. There might “even” be questions of internal informants within the Local Government; sponsors (kingpins) residing within the Local Government who might be providing logistic support, etc.
    (d) The vulnerability of women and the aged as well as minors in the kidnap incidences might be an indication of taking advantage of the “weak and less privilege” in this regard. This does not suggest remarkable strength on the part of the kidnappers but possible cover/mask of the identity of the kidnappers.
    (e) August 2020 indicates the highest cases of reported kidnap in the Local Government. This might be attributed to taking advantage of the peak of rain and possible escape across water-lock areas or nearby forest/-mountain areas.
    (f) There was a steady increase in incidences of kidnapping from when the royal father, His Royal Highness Pankwal Bogghom was kidnapped on Monday 20th April, 2020 to August, 2020. This might be an indication of lack-luster approach in timely dealing with the index cases by security agents, community leaders and other stakeholders.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WARNING SIGNS AND TECHNIQUES OF KIDNAPPING IN KANAM
The brief historical antecedent of insecurity and kidnapping in Kanam Local Government could be traced to early warning signs in 1956 and in 2017 with incidences of attacks and threats. It will be recalled that armed men on January 2017 attacked the Divisional Police Station at Dengi, the Headquarters of Kanam Local Government Area killing a Police Officer and carting away several rifles (Premium Times, 2017). January 18th, 2017, the Saturday Punch reported that the Policemen who were on duty at the time were detained by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CID) of the Command in Plateau State. According to the then PPRO, that the men claimed to have gone to eat during the attack which took place around 2:00am. That after the Policeman on duty was shot, the armed men took his AK-47 rifle and proceeded to break into the Station’s Armoury and stole seven (7) rifles. That seven (7) suspects detained for theft in the cell of the Station were also freed; 5 were later re-arrested while 2 were at large.

Since the attack on Police Station in 2017, incidences of kidnapping and other various security challenges were noted in the Local Government. For example, there were reported incidences where notes and bullets were literally left in the front doors of certain individuals. The unknown persons requested for money to be paid in order to avert kidnapping. Border conflicts between Wase and Kanam have also occurred. In 1956 for instance, the unresolved land border dispute between Wase and Kanam have continued to threaten peace in the area. Although, the government and the traditional authorities attempted to resolve the matter in 1970, there has been no clear demarcations around the border.

PROPELLING FACTORS AND CAUSES OF KIDNAPPING AS EMERGING SOCIAL CRIME IN RURAL AREAS
There are several factors responsible for the spate of kidnapping as a ripped social crime. In 2006 when the alleged Niger-Delta militants started kidnapping for ransom, many pundits believed that the reasons were rooted in the many years of neglect and greed by the oil companies who had no tangible community programmes for the teeming youths. Environmental degradation deepened by long years of abandonment of farming and fishing activities led to high level of unemployment, poverty, greed and ostentatious life-style from proceeds of kidnap or ransom.

With the subsequent and current spates of kidnapping from the “notorious” Evans-to-Wadume” and the so-called unknown gunmen and/or kidnappers in our vicinities, the propelling factors and/or causes have emerged as follows:

1. Insecurity and Abysmal Security Presence
   The level of insecurity and near absence of security agents in most of our rural communities has no doubt pushed a lot of the so-called urban criminals to the ungoverned areas. In most of our villages from Kustim to Wokkos; to Wuseli; to Runji, to Gum-Gagdi, to all the villages in our PKK Constituency, how many security presences do we see? The rural areas have become targets for kidnappers given the poor presence of security.
2. Unemployment in the Urban Areas vs High Cost of Farm Inputs to Create Rural Employment
   There are research evidence that shows a significant correlation between unemployment and job losses in the urban areas with the movement of criminal elements to the rural areas (Abdulkabir, 2017). Unemployment in Nigeria is currently put at about 27.5% according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2020) and this means that more people particularly the youths are idle. Thus, many youths join criminal gangs as means of survival. Incidences of kidnapping for ransom; for ritual purposes; for recruitment into criminal gangs and insurgents could all be linked to unemployment. This is further deepened by high cost of farm inputs to farmers in the rural areas.
3. Political Parochialism
   This has to do with the role of some politicians to the upsurge of hired killers especially during campaigns. These thugs sometimes metamorphosed into disparaging kidnappers who use ammunitions obtained from such politicians to capture their victims.

Other factors include:
(a) Prevalence of illicit drugs and drug addiction;
(b) Unguided display of unnecessary wealth;
(c) Ritual and spiritual productivity;
(d) Poverty;
(e) Idleness propelled by long closure of schools;
(f) Hopelessness amidst flamboyant lifestyle of politicians, local businessmen and some farmers;
(g) Land disputes;
(h) Lack of parental responsibilities;
(i) Poor leadership and continues neglect of peace building efforts;
(j) Migration and climate changes;
(k) Farm disputes between Bayar and Garga and Birbyang and Garga;
(l) Lack of sufficient finance in the Local Government; etc.

SNOWBALLING OF KIDNAPPING AS EMERGING SOCIAL CRIME
The intensity of kidnapping as an emerging social crime can be seen in very disturbing forms as:
 Reckless force of young girls into prostitution to bridge poverty gaps amongst families. This is further seen in the rising rape cases of minors.
 Early forced marriages of girls to augment income deficits amongst larger low income families.
 Forced transportation of young girls and boys from rural areas to cities where they work as domestic servants without much economic and social benefits.
 School dropouts without jobs who engage in drugs and thuggery during political campaigns.
 Blind loyalty to political godfathers who use them to settle old scores.
 Tribal and religious divide resulting to specific target areas for abduction.

KIDNAPPING: A COUNTER TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Internal and external security of Nigeria are both indispensable to rural and national development. No nation can experience any form of progress amidst insecurity. National security according to Dakas (2014) serves as the basis for maintaining the survival of the nation.

National security means the absence of threats, preservation of a nation’s integrity, territory, institutions, economic relations from disruptions and interferences. In 2010, the former President of USA, Barack Obama noted that national security promotes opportunity and prosperity. This shows that National Security is about the protection of the lives and properties of the people from external aggression and internal threats to peace. It is a requirement for progress.

With peculiar reference to rural development, kidnapping as emerging social crime will have adverse implications on the provisions of basic services to the people by both Government; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private individuals respectively. As counter to national security and rural development, kidnapping if left to flourish, will result to the following:
a) Food Insecurity and Hunger
The current hardship generated by painful decisions for complete removal of subsidy by the government will become even more intense with farmers inability to go about their farming unabated whether it is crop production, cattle rearing or poultry. As it stands now, millions of naira have been lost as ransom to the kidnappers. This will mean low harvests hence food shortages and perennial hunger. Our people on Kanam are mostly agrarian farmers and the fear of being kidnapped or paying huge ransom could be devastating.

b) Distrust, Animosity and Eventual Breakdown of Law and Order
Where kidnapping becomes perpetual, distrust, hatred has the propensity to bring about crises amongst the various ethnic and religious groups. This can threaten peaceful co-existence as a requirement for national security.

c) Trading Seizure and Economic Insecurity
National security and rural development strive on successful trading activities within and outside the State. In this case, most communities within the Kanam axis transact economic/trading activities with one another. The crops, goats, cattle, sheep, beans and groundnuts produced in the Local Government have far-reaching trade benefits to all the geo-political zones of Nigeria. However, kidnapping in the area will mar these trading ties.

Others are:
• Environmental insecurity including resource problems climate issues for fertile crop and animal production particularly the ranching policy of the government; and
• Energy resources insecurity especially the plan exploration activities for oil in the Local Government; etc.

NB: Key national interests in the Kanam Local Government zone are both economic and social. The economic interest is in Federal Government’s plan for oil exploration prospects in the area and the Federal Government Pilot Agricultural Ranching policy. The social interest is the primary responsibility of the government to provide security and welfare to the people viz. health, education, road linkages to other States of the Federation and so on.

RESPONSE TO THE SECURITY CHALLENGES AND KIDNAPPING IN PANKSHIN, KANKE AND KANAM (PKK)
Acknowledging the primary purpose of government which is the security and welfare of the people, the last one year in Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam (PKK) was quite a challenging one. But with God and the people on our side, we were able to address some of the key security challenges. As the people’s representative, I left no stone unturned to ensure that the critical challenges of unemployment, hunger and poverty which propelled criminality are being addressed. We developed a blueprint to take headlong the issues of infrastructures, job creation, health, education, security and human development. Consequently, some of the areas that concerns security were being addressed as follows:-

1. Job Creation and Empowerment
   In the last one year, over 261 job opportunities and direct employment were provided to the people of the Constituency. Skilled, semi skilled and skilled young people across the Constituency were provided with lucrative jobs. Women empowerment and entrepreneurial development were not left out. We distributed
2. Bill on Repeal of Police Act
   The Police Act Repeal Bill sponsored by my humble self to alter the provisions of the Police Act is among other things aimed at engendering optimum security of lives and property of Nigerians by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and to accommodate community policing and other sundry issues. The Bill has already been passed to law.
3. Advocacy Visit and Appeal for Detachment of Special Police Force to Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam
   Following the rising spate of kidnappings and the surge of heinous crimes in Kanam Local Government in particular and the Constituency in general, I visited the Inspector General of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammed in his office. Consequently, the IGP has instructed the AIG in charge of intelligence, Ibrahim Lamorde to send a detachment of Special Squad (SS) to Kanam Local Government Area who are to overlook Pankshin and Kanke Local Government Areas for a period of three (3) months at first instance to curb the menace of kidnappings in the area.
4. Human Development
   The whole concept of my approach to representation is to develop human capacity and to enhance the quality of life of our people. This I have indicated through various donations in cash; in relief materials; in palliatives; in food items, and so on. During the COVID-19 lockdown in May 2020, I distributed over 3,000 bags of 15kg rice and over 800 bags of maize across the Constituency. Over 70 youths made up of bloggers and information dissemination influencers benefitted from a separate gesture of N10,000 each. This was in realization of the role of information in sensitizing our people against the danger of COVID-19. All the 58 State Electoral Wards across the three Local Governments (PKK) have benefited in one way or the other. In addition to the COVID-19 palliatives, over 520 rams and cows were distributed during Christmas and Sallah celebrations. There are however ongoing distributions at various levels aimed at cushioning the adverse effects of hunger and poverty across the three local government areas.
5. Infrastructural Development
   Major efforts at addressing infrastructural gaps have focused on sinking of boreholes; grading of roads and partnership with FERMA to fill major holes; construction of schools; health-clinics; royal palaces, amongst others.

May I state here that I have contributed immensely in funding the local vigilante which in no doubt has enhanced their capacity in managing critical entry and exit points in Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Local Government Areas. To strengthen the vigilante the more and in line with the community policing, I shall continue to partner with the conventional Nigeria Police Force and the local vigilante through logistic supports.

At this juncture, I wish to announce that I have the following plans:-
(a) To provide Hilux Patrol Vans to each of the three Local Governments as a means of facilitating security surveillance;
(b) To procure and distribute motor-cycles across the Local Governments to stem the tides of criminality; and
(c) Sequel to the various empowerment programmes and jobs that I have facilitated and executed for the people, I have plans within the shortest time to do more. This will further strengthen the socio-economic capacity of the youths and women thereby curb indolence as likely recipe for social crime.

TOWARDS FINDING A LASTING SOLUTION AND THE WAY FORWARD
Reiterating the primary goal of government, Section 14(2) declares that:
(a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;
(b) The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government; and
(c) The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.

Governments at different levels have made various efforts at addressing social crimes in Nigeria. The Legislature from the National Assembly to the State Assemblies have made various laws to stem criminality and in particular kidnapping arising from their constitutional responsibility for law making as enshrined in Chapter 1 Part 2, Section 4 of 1999 Constitution as amended. Anti-kidnapping laws have provisions about penalties ranging from 10-20 years imprisonment; life sentence and in the cases of gross injuries and death, capital punishment may apply.
The Executive Arm of Government is responsible for enforcing or implementing laws. The law enforcement agents ably led by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammed have various anti-crime units under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID). The Special Anti-Robbery Square (SARS) under FCIID deals with crimes associated with armed robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, cattle rustling and crimes associated to firearms. For instance, on 9th May 2019 rolled out new counter-kidnapping operational strategies. The new strategies which are purposeful and intelligence-driven are targeted at identifying, locating and dismantling kidnapping gangs across the nation and bringing the kidnappers and their collaborators to justice. According to the Police boss, there is the “OPERATION PUFF-ADDER” currently going on in several States of the Federation. The operation involves:
• Deployment of undercover operatives;
• Decoy operations;
• High-level tactical missions with active participation of Conventional Police Units (CPU), the Force Intelligence Unit (FIU), the SARS, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (ARS);
• Police Tactical Units (PTU) comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF);
• The Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU); and
• The Special Forces.

Operation Puff Adder (OPA) in May 2019 for example, rescued unhurt 27 kidnap victims including 5 Chinese nationals who were hitherto kidnapped on 15th April, 2019 (Mba, 2019). Meanwhile, the number of rescued since then have increased through painful and careful operations. This indicates that the law enforcement agents have being working assiduously to curb kidnapping.

Let me recommend as follows:
1) There is need to enforce local community security relation with deployment of more security personnel and reinvigorating the vigilante.
2) There should be early warning signals with relevant networking that can guarantee intelligence flow for rapid response.
3) Traditional institutions should be carried along in implementing the proposed community policing strategy in the Local Government Areas of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam.
4) Government collaboration with businessmen in terms of funding vigilante will go a long way in checking insecurity in the area.
5) The Border Commission should revisit the issue of demarcating the border between Kanam and Wase.
6) The moral tone of the country has to be changed. The ethical values around which the youths are developed have to change. The over-emphasis on materialism and the worship of money has to change. The moral standards that leadership should be held must be upgraded.
7) Nigeria must actively engaged in radical social transformation that changes the primitive, feudal social formation that still characterizes many parts of the country, she must equip the population with the social skills to operate in a modern world while maintaining the moral and ethical soundness of our traditional societies.
8) The country has to build a modern economy that is globally competitive and can create jobs for any Nigerian that wants one. The job of governance entails being able to manage the economy in a way that resources are effectively mobilized to meet the basic needs of the population.
9) Corruption, looting of public funds, exploitation of national wealth, particularly by those who are entrusted with managing resources for the common good constitutes covert instruments of insecurity, which have to be vigorously addressed.
10) Education must be encouraged. The response of the population to security challenges is a function of their enlightenment and education. The falling standard of education has resulted in half-baked graduates that are not very functional and who in turn are easily recruited for anti-social activities.
11) Lastly, Nigeria has to continue to build vigorous partnerships with its heterogeneity. Bridges have to be built across ethnic and religious divides in such a way that the people respect human dignity and the rights of others. There are many issues which disconnect our social and political lives. Acts of coalition and consensus building must be perfected, where they do not exist, there should be a capacity to build them through constructive engagement with vulnerable communities. Nigeria must devise a means of building strong coalitions across the deep seated divides in the country.

 
CONCLUSION
May I conclude this presentation by appreciating first and foremost, the Almighty Allah and the people of PKK, the untiring roles of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammed and his team in promptly responding to the security plights of the Constituency. As the House Committee Chairman on one of the Security Committee in the National Assembly, I will continue to do everything humanly possible to assist the security agents in the areas of budget and other legislations on security.

The Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, CP Edward Egbuka and his team have also shown a high level of professionalism in addressing criminality and insecurity in the three Local Government Areas. My unalloyed support to the Police Command shall be intensified to further strengthen our partnership in the security sector of the State as a whole.

I appreciate the Director, State Security Service (DSS) in Plateau State; the Commandant of Operation Safe Haven and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) in Plateau State for their respective response to the security challenges in the entire Constituency.

Thank you and God bless

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KIDNAPPING IN KANAM: AN EMERGING SOCIAL CRIME, A COUNTER TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMEN BY RT. HON. YUSUF ADAMU GAGDI BEING A PAPER AT A ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY KANAM APC YOUTH FORUM ON SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER, 2020