The study examined the socio-economic cost of kidnapping in Southwest, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the causes of kidnapping; the social and economic cost of kidnapping; and the difference in perception of the social and economic cost of kidnapping in Southwest, Nigeria based location of the respondents. The descriptive research design of the survey type was used in this study. The sample for the study consisted of 450 adults from 15 Local Government Areas in 3 States of Southwest, Nigeria. The sample was selected using multistage sampling procedure. A self-designed research instrument tagged Socio-economic Cost and Kidnapping Questionnaire (SCKQ) was used to collect relevant data for the study. The data collected through the instrument were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that the social cost of kidnapping are sexual harassment of female victims, reduction in quality of social relationship, fear of rendering public assistance and fear of association with strangers while economic cost of kidnapping are ransom paid to kidnappers, capital flight of investors and high budget on security. Also, it was revealed that the perception of the socio-economic cost of kidnapping in Southwest, Nigeria was location biased. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that Government should be firm and fair in its resolution and implementation of decisions to curb kidnapping.

Keywords: Socio-Economic, Cost, Kidnapping,

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