Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

The Nigerian Niger delta is one of the most richly endowed regions of the country. It harbours oil and gas resources which are the major foreign exchange earners upon which the nation’s economic development is hinged. Due to economic deprivation, marginalisation and lack of development, the area has become unfortunately notorious to incidences of militancy, kidnapping and hostage taking. Irrespective of negative consequences of these vices, it appears that those who take to these acts do so as the only available option to attracting government and international attentions to their plights. Lots of lives, properties and resources are lost and wasted stemming from the activities of these groups as well as government’s ‘militarilistic’ approaches. The paper views militancy, kidnapping and hostage taking as direct responses to deprivation and lack of development in the Niger delta. Available literatures in this respect were explored and identified gaps were filled. The theory of deprivation was used as the theoretical framework of analysis. The research also identified that the groups involved in these vices do so as a means to cushion the effects of poverty orchestrated by decades of oil exploration and environmental degradation. The paper concluded by recommending that the 13 percent derivation is insignificant when compared to the environmental and health implications of oil exploration. Thus, adequate attention should be paid to the utilisation of funds meant for the development of the area.

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