Capabilities, Capture & Coercion: Analysing the Political Economy of Kidnap-for-Ransom Offences by Pastoral ‘Bandits’ in Northwest Nigeria

ABSTRACT

What are the main drivers of kidnap-for-ransom offences in northwest Nigeria? This article deviates from existing literature on the phenomenon by delving into the capability failures of both pastoral bandits and the Nigerian state, while also examining the socio-cultural dynamics inherent within this phenomenon. First, I utilise Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach to shed light on how socio-economic conditions in northwest Nigeria hinder the developmental capabilities of pastoralists, thereby driving some to commit kidnap-for-ransom offences as a means of economic survival. Second, I assess the role played by the political economy of land and climate change in driving these offences. Third, I examine the governance capability failure of the Nigerian state, framing it within the context of ‘softened sovereignty’ in the northwest region thereby challenging the prevailing Ungoverned Spaces Theory (UST). Lastly, I explore how the socio-cultural capabilities of pastoral bandits, such as their network capabilities and nomadic lifestyles, facilitate their engagement in kidnap-for-ransom offences. By providing a comprehensive analysis encompassing capability failures, governance shortcomings, and socio-cultural dynamics, this study advances an understanding of the complex drivers behind kidnap-for-ransom offences in northwest Nigeria.