A Systematic Literature Review: The Socio-Economic Impact of Banditry and Kidnapping in Kaduna State, Nigeria. 2015 – 2025

Over the past decade, armed banditry and kidnapping have posed serious threats to lives, property, and livelihoods in Kaduna State, resulting in fear, displacement, and severe socio-economic disruptions across rural and urban communities. This study explored the prevalence and trends of banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna within a broader national and regional context, while also examining their socio-economic impacts. The analysis was guided by frustration–aggression theory and social disorganization theory, which explain how structural breakdown and unmet needs can fuel violent crime. The study adopted an interpretivist research philosophy with a qualitative design. Secondary data was drawn from credible sources, including policy briefs and reports from UNDP, FAO, International Crisis Group, and Human Rights Watch, alongside books and peer-reviewed journal articles. These materials provided the basis for thematic content analysis, which helped identify recurring patterns, themes, and gaps in the literature. Findings revealed that banditry and kidnapping have worsened poverty, heightened food insecurity, caused school closures, disrupted businesses, and forced large-scale population displacement in Kaduna State. To address these challenges, the study recommends prioritizing interventions in high-risk communities through job creation, vocational training, and access to microcredit for young people. It further highlights the need for stronger legal and institutional frameworks to support local security services, as well as enhanced border patrols to curb the spread of illegal arms and ammunition. Lastly, the study calls for the creation of a consolidated national dataset on banditry and kidnapping to guide policy and intervention.