Captive Market

Commercial Kidnapping Stories from Nigeria

Captive Market is the first ever book-length exposé of the business side of kidnapping in Nigeria. Using first hand interviews with kidnap victims and their families, a story emerges that is packed with surprising twists, turns and paradoxes as it shines a light on the fear and the fact of kidnapping.

Kidnapping in Nigeria, though a growing fact of life that few want to talk about, is not very well understood. Its existence is a cancer that needs to be rooted out - it limits the potential of a growing Nigerian economy and the simple fear of being the next kidnapping victim degrades how many Nigerians live their lives.

Captive Market takes the view that if we understand the way kidnappers think about kidnapping it might be easier to get people out of kidnapping situations.  It uses first person kidnapping stories and interviews with hostage negotiators and peeks into the twisted and bizarre world of kidnapping insurance.

Yaw Boateng

Yaw Boateng lives in Nigeria and travels frequently to the rest of Africa for work advising multinational companies on doing business in Africa.  He earned BA’s in Psychology and Economics, and an MBA in Finance.

Richard Slota

Richard Slota travels frequently from his home in San Francisco, CA, USA to visit his family in Nigeria and West Africa. He writes plays, novels, nonfiction and poetry. He just finished a play set in Nigeria called Babatunde In Hell about witchcraft, Ebola and kidnapping. Rainbowdash Publishers LLC just published an eBook of his long poem and play, Famous Michael, about a Vietnam vet medic who can’t forget the war.  His short play, We All Walk In Shoes Too Small was produced at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. Dream Big and Famous Michael were staged by Solano Repertory Company in Northern California. He earned BA’s in Psychology and Theatre Arts and an MA in Creative Writing. He has 3 grown children and is a member of the Playwright’s Center of San Francisco.