LSST Birmingham Lecturer Publishes Groundbreaking Research on the Sociological Fabric of Kidnapping in Nigeria
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 5 July 2024
In a unique scholarly contribution, Dr Michael Demehin, Course Coordinator for LSST’s DMU accredited courses and Module Lead and Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Sciences at LSST Birmingham – also a preeminent academic researcher – has published an incisive and exhaustive study that methodically dissects the phenomenon of kidnapping in Nigeria.
‘We are all inspired by Dr Demehin’s publication. The landmark research offers a profound exploration into the historical experiences, antecedents and contemporary proliferation of geographical kidnapping all the while meticulously elucidating its many unjustifiable triggers and sociological foundations,’ said Mr Mohsin Riaz, Dean of LSST Birmingham.
The paper titled ‘Unveiling the multifaceted dimensions: a sociological inquiry into kidnapping in Nigeria’ is published in the prestigious Crime, Law and Social Change journal that focuses on research addressing crime at all levels globally. The article traces the lineage of kidnapping in Nigeria, separating its historical trajectory into two salient sections: the slavery and precolonial era, and the contemporary period. This diachronic analysis is pivotal in comprehending this destructive crime’s enduring and evolving nature. Dr Demehin compellingly argues that the entrenchment of kidnapping is ‘significantly aggravated by the lucrative economy it engenders’, thereby perpetuating its persistence. ‘One of the enduring social crimes throughout history is kidnapping. While its manifestations are global, there are distinct local variations in its specifics. This social malady has surged with alarming frequency, especially over the past decade in Nigeria, bringing with it significant impacts on the stability of the country.’ The study adeptly categorises the factors of kidnapping into distinct clusters:
Underlying: encompassing socio-economic disparities, dysfunctional law enforcement and judicial apparatus and protracted conflicts.
Remote: involving political instability, the proliferation of militant factions, and insurgency.
Immediate: including vulnerable demographics, the paucity of robust security measures and episodes of diverse civil unrest.
Through a rigorous examination of the current theoretical paradigms related to kidnapping, the study creates a comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates factors pertinent to the Nigerian setting. ‘This framework is instrumental in providing a nuanced and holistic understanding of the crime’s complexity,’ adds Dr Demehin. ‘The findings from our inquiry bear profound implications for policymaking. We hope that our work is poised to inform the genesis of novel policies and the refinement of extant ones, with the overarching aim of fostering a secure, stable and peaceful socio-economic landscape in Nigeria.’
Dr Maryam Idris-Usman, Academic Team Lead and Research Centre Coordinator at LSST Birmigham, added: ‘Dr Dehemin’s recent work stands as an indispensable resource for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders committed to eradicating kidnapping and fortifying security in Nigeria. The comprehensive analysis and innovative framework articulated in this study represent a significant stride towards deciphering and addressing one of Nigeria’s most acute social maladies.’
For more information on the study, please visit: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-024-10159-5
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That’s a beautiful contribution to the archives of Nigeria policy makers towards resolving the incessant problem of domestic kidnapping in Nigeria.
Dr Deheemin has always been a brilliant and prolific writer.
His research work has always been an epitome of success in the palace of academics.
This is indeed classic! I agreed with the pre-colonial contributions, the lucrativess, sscurity porosity and other factors posted. What indeed is challenging is how this menace can be curtailed, or reduced giving the effect on vulnerable Nigerians.