Kidnapping in Zamfara State: The Socio-legal Effect on the Country (Nigeria) 

The forceful abduction of a person to hold hostage for diverse reasons is known as kidnap. The reason ranges from money ransom from the victim's family, poverty, ritual money, unemployment, underemployment, political ambition, wickedness, enviousness, insecurity, ineffective legal structure, silence about such happening etc. This act is not only traumatizing to the victim, family and society but makes everyone live in fear of whom might be kidnapped next. Premise on this, this study seeks to examine the recent kidnap happenings in Zamfara state and the traumatic effect on the society. The laws and legal institutions dealing with issues of kidnap will also be explored. The method adopted for this study is both doctrinal and qualitative methodologies. The study argues that kidnapping persists in the community because the kidnappers within that area see it as a way of life and an easier way of earning a living. The study found that kidnap is no longer done by the bandits but neighbours and friends within the community. It also found that it is the perceived standard of living by the kidnappers that will determine whether such a person is a likely victim. The study recommends that stakeholders should do everything possible to encourage the people to report issues of kidnap within the community with maximum security from retaliation and bring the culprit to book. The study concludes that kidnap can be reduced within that community if the legal institutions and the law take effect as they ought to.