Kidnapping of School Girls: The Impact on Women’s Education in Nigeria

Abstract

The persistent cases of kidnapping for ransom or human shields by terrorists and bandits in Nigeria particularly targeted at school girls and women is quite alarming. Aside from the fact that it constitutes a major threat multiplier not just for the Nigerian educational system but specially for women and girl’s empowerment as well as gender equality as a whole. Kidnapping is fast contributing to the destabilization and distortion of the school system as research has shown that it is a major factor for low school turn-out and enrolment for girls as they constitute the vast majority of the casualties. This has dampened their morale and self-efficacy as quite a sizeable number of girls particularly in the rural areas of Northern Nigeria which is the hub of such criminal activities do not have a choice but drop out of school for their personal safety and security of lives which is the most paramount. For the few girls who still remain determined in pursuing their educational pursuits, most of their parents and guardians have been too impoverished to meet the educational needs of their girl-children because of the huge losses of their personal resources incurred in the illegal settlement of huge ransom to help rescue the lives of other family members who happen to be victims of such criminal activities. Kidnapping in Nigerians remains a major threat to the realization of the broad goals and objectives of women and girl’s education and continues to widen the gender gaps. This clearly indicates the drastic rolling back of the previous achievements of women and girls’ education as well as the broad goals and objectives of gender equality It is imperative for the government and all stake-holders to create the enabling environment for youth empowerment and job creation, embark on poverty eradication strategies as well as integrate AI in intelligence gathering so as to effectively tackle this social anathema.