Blog 10: Kidnapping in Nigeria

Early Tuesday morning a kidnapping took place in Lagos, Nigeria.  The armed kidnappers took dozens of girls from a state school in the middle of Boko Haram insurgency.  The students had stayed the night in the school due to exams the next day. Before the men got to the school they attacked the village and killed a soldier.  It is suspected that the girls were taken to be the kidnappers’ sex slaves and cooks.  Some girls were able to escape from the men that took them.  The girls were crammed into trucks to transport them.  Four girls were able to jump off of the trucks as they were moving.  Other girls were able to slip away from the men while fulfilling the men’s cooking needs.  The girls were told to clean the plates with leaves.  When the girls would go outside to find the leaves they would flee.

As I have discussed before on my blogs, kidnapping can be used for many different reasons from political, personal, to gain awareness, etc.  In this specific incident kidnapping was used to further the sex slave industry.  Nigeria is not the only place that suffers from kidnappings for the sex slave industry.  This is a problem all over the world, even here in America.  The sex slave industry is a growing problem in the world that needs special attention in catching those who are involved with this industry. The movie Taken paints a perfect picture of how harmless kidnappers can look.  It is important for all people to be aware of their surroundings.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/world/africa/nigeria-fears-captive-girls-will-be-held-as-sex-slaves.html?ref=kidnapping&_r=0

Blog 8: Kidnapping at a Resort in Malaysia

            Wednesday in Malaysia a Chinese tourist and a Filipino hotel worker were kidnapped from a beach resort. The victims are both women.  The abductors are what seem to be the insurgents near the Philippines that are fighting the Philippine government. This kidnapping is said to have risked the tie between China and Malaysia. As we all know Malaysia is struggling with the Flight 370 disaster, and this kidnapping is not helping their recovery. Witnesses say that they saw a group of gunmen storm the hotel and after they had kidnapped the women they quickly made a move to exit the resort. Kidnappings like this have become more frequent in the Sulu Archipelago.

            As I have discussed before on my blogs kidnapping is a tactic often used by people to gain money or they use kidnapping for a more meaningful purpose. Insurgent groups are well known for kidnapping for these reasons such as we have seen in the story above. This particular group near the southern Philippines use kidnapping for ransom to assist financing further operations. The leader of this recent kidnapping is assumed to be Murphy Ladja. Ladja also directed a kidnapping of foreigners at a resort in 2000. I definitely think this whole situation is a global problem. Southern Malaysia is not the only place that kidnappings happen. In this case, this kidnapping is considered an international kidnapping due to taking a tourist. I think kidnapping has become more common and as the world progresses kidnapping will progress as well.  It is important for people to be aware of their surroundings because of this pressing global world problem.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/world/asia/kidnapping-in-malaysian-borneo.html?_r=0

Blog 5: Kidnappings in Lebanon

Recently in Lebanon many kidnappings have been occurring.  The most recent is the kidnapping of Michel Al-Saqr, who is the son of Lebanese businessman Ibrahim Al-Saqr. Michel was kidnapped as he was being driven to school on March 7. Just 24 hours after his kidnapping he was returned to his family.  The reason Michel was released to his family was because of his father making his kidnapping a public matter. Police began to raid the town of Braital in order to find Michel.  The likely perpetrator is wanted criminal Maher Tlais. Tlais was not in his home when it was raided and then publically pleaded that he had no involvement with this kidnapping.  This case is not the only one that Lebanon has seen.  More and more kidnappings, like this one, are happing in Lebanon.  The suspects claim to not know their kidnappers identity, but it is suspected that Tlais is behind these kidnappings.  Until Tlais is found guilty these kidnappings will become more frequent.

         This is an example of how kidnapping is a global issue that does not only concern the US, but other countries.  Kidnapping for ransom is a common use for kidnapping.  Usually taking a person for ransom is to get the attention of others, such as political figures.  Ransom is a tactic that criminals use to be heard.  Lebanon is just one of many examples of how kidnapping is prevalent due to bigger reasons.  This criminal is trying to capture government officials’ attention and get his way by enforcing violence. 

Blog 4-Kidnapping in Nigeria

The article is about a gunman kidnapping the 70-year-old uncle of Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan. Chief Inengite Nitabai’s was invaded at 9pm on Sunday  in oil-state Bayelsa in the city of Otuoke by 10 gunmen.  Nitabai was bundled up and stuffed into his own car as the gunman took him captive. Nitabai has yet to be retrieved from the kidnappers that are keeping him for ransom, but officials will keep trying to find him. So far the presidency has yet to comment on the matter. Kidnapping for ransom is common in the oil-producing southern Nigeria. Oil marketers are often in danger of being kidnapped, such as foreign oil majors.

            As I have discussed before kidnapping is typically used for a reason.  Ransom is one of the most popular uses. Kidnappers are often trying to gain money or an agreement by kidnapping someone for ransom. Although this particular kidnapping story took place in Nigeria it is a global issue. All over the world kidnapping for ransom is a common used tactic. Kidnapping for ransom is often successful for the kidnappers, but people are at risk. When people are at risk this becomes a social problem. Ransom is often used for political reasons. Kidnappings are becoming more frequent and dangerous. If the ransom doesn’t go as planned people are put under dangerous situations. Kidnapping won’t stop and is commonly seen around the world.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/uk-nigeria-kidnapping-idUKBREA1O0YA20140225

Blog 3: Kidnapping in Missouri

Middle-school football coach in Missouri, Craig Michael Woods, was charged for the murder of 10-year-old Hailey Owens on Wednesday February 19, 2014.  Hailey was a fourth grader at Westport Elementary School that had no relation to Woods or the middle school that Woods worked at.  Hailey was abducted as she walked back from a friend’s house on Tuesday February 19, 2014.  This abduction did not happen discretely, which is the reason Woods did not get away with this kidnapping.  Residents nearby saw Hailey being taken.  Ricky Riggins, a witness of this crime, chased Woods, but couldn’t keep up.  Woods was found Tuesday night in his home with a role of duct tape in his hand and what seems to be Hailey Owens body.

            In this article one thought stands out to me.  This thought is how the world is becoming more and more evil and corrupt.  My parents talk about how when they were younger their parents let them play outside and out of sight up until it was dinnertime.  I heard stories about never having to lock the door and riding bikes to the store at 10-years-old.  Now in  2014, parents can’t let their kids play outside without watching them.  Kids can’t ride their bikes to the store and pick up groceries without adult supervision.  The world is a scary place for children these days.  The world has become morally corrupt.  Forty years ago if a 10-year-old child walked from a friend’s house the chances of being abducted were slimmer.  I find this issue to be a global problem, because the world as a whole is facing more kidnappings, more murders, and more crime in general.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/19/search-intensifies-for-missing-missouri-girl-after-kidnapping-suspect-arrested/