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There is an upsurge in the crime of kidnapping in Nigeria. The phenomenon which started in the Niger Delta region of the country subsequently spread to other regions especially the southeast region. This book examined the crime of kidnapping in southeast Nigeria especially in Anambra and Abia states. The cross sectional survey design was adopted in the study. Several theories of crime were reviewed in the study. Many factors were found to be responsible for kidnapping in the region. Prominent among them are unemployment, debased value system and unprecedented penchant for materialism. The consequences of kidnapping were found to be enormous. They include among others, failure of businesses, death, lack of interpersonal trust, fear of being kidnapped. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended among others, value re-orientation, provision of job opportunities and skill acquisition for the unemployed, use of sufficient technology to monitor the activities of kidnappers etc. This book will be of immense benefit to students of criminology in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world.

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Dr Emeka Clement Ikezue holds a Ph. D. degree in Criminology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria. He is a lecturer in the department of Sociology/Anthropology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He is also an adjunct lecturer with National Open University of Nigeria, Awka Study center.

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