By Lawan Musa Danlami
THE RECENT abduction of pupils, students, and teachers from schools in Oyo State has once again drawn national attention to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis. The incident, which sent shockwaves across the country, highlighted the growing fear among citizens that kidnapping has become a nationwide threat rather than a problem confined to specific regions. Parents, community leaders, and security experts have expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of schools and rural communities, while many Nigerians continue to question why such incidents persist despite repeated government interventions.
The Oyo school kidnapping is not an isolated event. Across the country, reports of kidnappings, bandit attacks, armed robberies, and other forms of violent crime have become alarmingly common. In the North-West, states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger continue to battle armed bandit groups responsible for mass abductions, cattle rustling, village raids, and killings. In parts of North-Central Nigeria, communities face attacks from criminal gangs and armed groups, while some southern states have also witnessed a rise in kidnapping for ransom.
For many young Nigerians, the gap between societal expectations and available opportunities creates a sense of frustration. While the overwhelming majority choose lawful paths and continue striving for success despite obstacles, some individuals become vulnerable to criminal influences. This is where Merton’s concept of innovation becomes particularly relevant.
Although security agencies have intensified efforts to combat these threats, many analysts argue that focusing solely on military and law-enforcement responses fails to address the deeper social and economic factors driving insecurity. To understand why criminal activities continue to flourish despite security operations, it is important to examine the social conditions that contribute to crime. One useful framework for this analysis is Robert K. Merton’s Strain Theory.
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Merton, a renowned American sociologist, argued that every society promotes certain cultural goals that citizens are expected to achieve. These goals often include wealth, financial stability, social recognition, educational success, and a comfortable standard of living. Society also establishes legitimate means through which individuals are expected to attain these goals, such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, and hard work.
However, problems arise when access to these legitimate means is unevenly distributed. When large numbers of people are unable to achieve societal expectations through lawful channels, they experience what Merton described as “strain.” This strain creates frustration, disappointment, and pressure that may lead some individuals to seek alternative methods of achieving success. In some cases, those alternatives include criminal activities.
Nigeria provides a striking example of the conditions described by Merton. The country places a strong emphasis on wealth and material success. Expensive houses, luxury vehicles, political influence, and financial prosperity are often viewed as indicators of achievement. Young people are encouraged to pursue success and improve their social status. Yet for millions of Nigerians, the opportunities required to attain these aspirations remain limited.
According to various economic indicators, youth unemployment and underemployment continue to pose significant challenges. Thousands of graduates leave universities and polytechnics every year only to discover that suitable employment opportunities are scarce. Rising inflation, increasing living costs, and economic uncertainty have further compounded these difficulties. In many rural areas, poor infrastructure, inadequate educational facilities, and limited access to investment opportunities restrict social mobility.
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For many young Nigerians, the gap between societal expectations and available opportunities creates a sense of frustration. While the overwhelming majority choose lawful paths and continue striving for success despite obstacles, some individuals become vulnerable to criminal influences. This is where Merton’s concept of innovation becomes particularly relevant.
Innovation occurs when individuals accept society’s goals but reject legitimate means of achieving them. Rather than abandoning the pursuit of wealth and social recognition, they seek alternative routes, including unlawful ones. This adaptation helps explain why some people engage in kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, corruption, fraud, and other forms of criminal behavior.
The rise of banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger States illustrates this phenomenon. Over the years, many communities in these regions have struggled with poverty, unemployment, low educational attainment, and inadequate government presence. Criminal groups have exploited these conditions to recruit members and expand their operations. Young people who perceive limited prospects for economic advancement may be persuaded that joining armed groups offers a faster route to financial gain.
Bandit groups generate income through kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, illegal taxation, and extortion. Although these activities are criminal and destructive, they often provide economic incentives that attract individuals who feel excluded from legitimate opportunities. This does not excuse criminal behavior, but it helps explain why insecurity continues to persist despite military offensives and security crackdowns.
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The recent kidnapping in Oyo State also demonstrates how criminality can spread beyond traditional hotspots. What was once viewed primarily as a North-Western challenge has increasingly become a national concern. Criminal networks adapt, relocate, and exploit weaknesses wherever they find them. As economic hardship affects communities across different regions, the risk of criminal activity also expands.
Beyond kidnapping and banditry, strain theory can help explain other forms of crime prevalent in Nigeria. Cybercrime, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo,” has become a major issue in many urban centers. Some young people, frustrated by unemployment and economic challenges, turn to internet fraud as a means of acquiring wealth and social status. Similarly, corruption within public institutions can be viewed through the lens of strain theory, as individuals seek financial success through illegitimate means rather than lawful earnings.
Ultimately, the fight against insecurity is not only a battle against criminals; it is also a struggle for economic inclusion, social justice, and national development. If government implements the necessary measures to create jobs, improve education, support entrepreneurship, and promote sustainable economic growth, many of the conditions that fuel insecurity can be significantly reduced. By investing in the nation’s youth and providing legitimate pathways to success, Nigeria can move closer to achieving lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.
However, it is important to emphasize that poverty alone does not cause crime. Millions of poor Nigerians remain law-abiding citizens who contribute positively to society. Likewise, not everyone experiencing economic hardship resorts to criminal behavior. Factors such as family values, religious beliefs, community support, education, and effective law enforcement play important roles in shaping individual decisions. Nevertheless, widespread socioeconomic deprivation can increase the likelihood that some individuals will engage in crime.
For this reason, security experts and development specialists increasingly argue that Nigeria’s insecurity challenge cannot be solved through force alone. While military operations, intelligence gathering, and law-enforcement measures remain necessary, they must be complemented by policies that address the underlying drivers of crime.
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Government at all levels has a crucial role to play in reducing the strain experienced by citizens, particularly young people. Sustainable economic development must become a central pillar of Nigeria’s security strategy. Job creation initiatives, vocational training programs, entrepreneurship support schemes, and investments in agriculture, technology, and manufacturing can provide meaningful opportunities for millions of youths.
The expansion of technical and vocational education is especially important. Many young Nigerians possess talent and ambition but lack access to practical skills that can improve their employability. By investing in skill acquisition centers, innovation hubs, and small-business development programs, government can empower young people to become productive contributors to the economy rather than potential recruits for criminal networks.
Similarly, improving infrastructure in rural communities can stimulate economic activity and reduce feelings of marginalization. Better roads, electricity, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions can create opportunities for local populations and strengthen trust in government institutions. When citizens see tangible improvements in their living conditions, the appeal of criminal alternatives is likely to diminish.
Agriculture also offers enormous potential for reducing unemployment and insecurity. Large-scale investments in modern farming techniques, irrigation systems, agro-processing industries, and access to credit can create jobs while enhancing food security. Given that many areas affected by banditry are predominantly rural, agricultural development could play a significant role in addressing some of the socioeconomic factors contributing to insecurity.
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The lesson from Merton’s Strain Theory is clear: societies that promote success without providing adequate opportunities for achieving it risk creating conditions that foster crime and deviance. Nigeria’s experience with kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, and other security challenges reflects the importance of addressing both immediate threats and their underlying causes.
The recent Oyo school kidnapping, together with the persistent insecurity in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and other states, should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers. Security operations are essential, but they must be accompanied by comprehensive economic reforms that expand opportunities for citizens, particularly the youth.
Ultimately, the fight against insecurity is not only a battle against criminals; it is also a struggle for economic inclusion, social justice, and national development. If government implements the necessary measures to create jobs, improve education, support entrepreneurship, and promote sustainable economic growth, many of the conditions that fuel insecurity can be significantly reduced. By investing in the nation’s youth and providing legitimate pathways to success, Nigeria can move closer to achieving lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.
Comrade Danlami popularly known as Baba Lawan writes from Haliru Umar Street, Dorayi Karamar Unguwar Yamma, Gwale LGA, Kano State, Nigeria. He can be reached via email: lawanmusa363@gmail.com
