Nigerian Militants (Photo from AFP file)
Only days after the release of a 3-year-old British girl kidnapped in Nigeria, another child was kidnapped. The Nigerian kidnappers demand $78,600 for 3-year-old , the child a boy was taken on Thursday, July 12. Thankfully the boy was released the following day, unharmed, thanks to the payment of a ransom.Kidnappings are not uncommon in this region of Africa, however using children as objects of ransom is. Will abducting young children for large sums be the newest wave of crime in a country being torn apart by militant criminal gangs? According to Reuters sources, approximately 150 adult abductions have taken place in the Niger Delta region this year alone, almost more than in 2006. Most all of the kidnap victims where unharmed and released upon receiving ransom money. The main targets for kidnappings have been the Oil Companies, who's expatriate staff have been the primary victims. Now with 4 children as kidnap victims, many now fear that the kidnapping of children, will be come the new target for militants seeking to extort money from large oil companies, contractors, and Nigerian officials.
“Kidnapping is a violation of the victim's fundamental human rights and can never be justified under any known law,” said Onueze Okncha, former head of the Nigerian Bar Association. “It's going to cause problems for Nigeria people in ways we could never imagine.” (Associated Press)
The constant kidnappings, and attacks, on oil refineries, are heavily contributing to the countries reduced oil production, which some say is only a quarter of what production was two years ago. Many smaller companies are now contemplating shutting down, and many employees are looking to move their families out of the country, as fears continue to escalate. Over the last year to year and a half, analysts say that the ‘character’ of kidnappings has shifted. Previously attacks and kidnappings where fulled by “community-related disputes, typically carried out by lightly armed local people aggrieved over a lack of jobs or environmental degradation, have become far more serious” (Companies Count the Cost of Kidnapping in Nigeria). Once groups may have used kidnapping victims to demand cleaner water systems, or more jobs for local workers, but now heavily armed militia gangs, who seem to have little interest in any demands for political or social change, and appear to be purely driven my money and greed.
The kidnappings and violent attacks are contributing to the rising cost of oil, however they are also causing an even greater increase as oil companies, such as petrol giant Shell, are taking on the cost of ransoms, increased wages, damages and increased security. Many claim that the government is doing little about the problem, as they are benefiting from the risky, yet profitable game. "Practically everyone involved in hostage negotiations has had his hands soiled," the militant said by e-mail. "Officials merely up the demands of the abductors and keep the rest to themselves, most times unknown to the abductors." (Ransoms fuel kidnapping surge in oil-rich Nigeria , gov't officials taking cut, gangs say)
What is really causing all of the kidnapping and attacks on oil companies, their staff, and now children? The bottom line is poverty and a continuously breading corruption. As with most situations of lawlessness, poverty is at the very heart of it. Unless we look to fix the root of the problem, it will continue to feed and grow off the desperation of the Nigerian people. The Nigerian government needs to look long and hard at the situation, before it fully erupts and turns the country into a gangland of oil fueled war lords, where no one can safely walk the streets, especially a foreigner, or a businessman.
Unfortunately the troubles related to the kidnappings and attacks on the oil industry, don't look to be going anywhere just yet, however let us only hope that children are not to be a continued pawn in this greedy game of war.
