The fate of hostages

The violence against hostages in Nigeria's armed conflicts is alarming. Killings, physical mutilation, sexual abuse, forced marriage, religious persecution, forced labour and conscription of hostages have all been recorded during Nigeria's conflicts in recent times. This trend has increased the concern for the fate of hostages in the country. However, there have been a few exceptions: some have escaped from their abductors, while a few others have been released for ransom or rescued by security operatives. This study examines the fate of hostages captured in Nigeria's conflict theatres, namely the Niger Delta region and the northern region of the country. The study seeks to understand the variations in the fates of hostages, their survival strategies, and the efficacy of Nigeria's crisis management approaches in the aforementioned conflict theatres.