GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT
The study empirically assessed the lack of employment for rural dwellers and youth involvement
in kidnapping of expatriates in the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State. Expost-Facto
design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Akwa Ibom state. The population
of the study consisted of all youths in Akwa Ibom State. Stratified sampling technique was used
in selecting 100 youths which was drawn from each of the senatorial district of Akwa Ibom
state. This gave a total of 300 sample size used for the study. The instrument used in this study
for data collection was a questionnaire titled "Lack of Employment for Rural Dwellers and Youth
Involvement in Kidnapping of Expatriates Questionnaire (LERDYIKEQ)". Face and content
validation of the instrument was carried out by an expert in testing, measurement, and
evaluation to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness
for the study under consideration. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.89, and this was
high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated
for this study to appropriate statistical techniques such as percentage analysis. The test for
significance was done at 0.05 alpha levels. It was concluded that the cases of unemployment
need the attention of government authorities to resolve them, thus creating job opportunities in
order to mitigate the impacts of unemployment. Also, all strategic solutions to mitigate
unemployment require cooperation and goodwill. The strategic solutions must, on the one
hand, recognise the critical roles of state and municipal governments while also empowering
rural residents. One of the recommendations made was that the government should enact more
stiff and strict laws concerning the kidnapping crime.
KEYWORDS: Employment, Rural Dwellers, Youth, Kidnapping and Expatriates.