Abstract
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is grappling with significant security challenges, among which kidnapping and banditry stand out as particularly pervasive and alarming issues. Kidnapping and banditry are not new phenomena in Nigeria. However, their prevalence has surged in recent years due to a combination of factors, including economic hardship, political instability, and inadequate law enforcement. The epicenter of banditry and kidnapping has shifted from the oil-rich Niger Delta to other regions, particularly the North-West, North-Central and the Eastern states. The perpetrators range from organized criminal syndicates to opportunistic individuals, with victims spanning all demographics, from schoolchildren and rural farmers to urban professionals and expatriates. The theoretical work by which this paper is hinged on is the Situational Action Theory (SAT).The study critically examines the phenomena of kidnapping and banditry within Nigeria, focusing on the effectiveness of the Nigerian security network in addressing these challenges. The methodology used is case study method which is complimented by contentand qualitative method using primary and secondary sources. Findings reveal that systemic corruption, inadequate funding, poor training, and lack of coordination among security agencies significantly hinder efforts to combat kidnapping and banditry. It also highlights the socioeconomic factors that fuel these criminal activities to include poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, inadequate government presence and regional inequalities. This research underscores the urgent need for a holistic approach that not only strengthens security measures but also addresses the underlying socioeconomic conditions contributing to the rise of kidnapping and banditry by critiquing the current strategies against those seemingly intractable menaces. This research recommends comprehensive reforms which would target the development of more effective and sustainable security policies in Nigeria.