One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand that criminal acts such as robbery, burgalry, murder, and kidnapping will be a way of life in any improverished nation.
Whether it is politically motivated or simply a criminal commercial venture.....if you are in such a place as Nigeria you are a target. That is why you get the huge sums of money, armed escorts, and armored limousines for transport to your work place from your armed guarded and barbed wire fenced gated compounds.
So what is "new" in West Africa?