This study examined the legal and institutional frameworks for curbing kidnapping in Nigeria, focusing on its effectiveness and the challenges that undermines the efficiency of these frameworks. By analyzing Nigerian legal frameworks, the research identified significant gaps in the implementation of the laws and weak enforcement courts decisions, ignorance of the law among other factors are undermining the efficiency of the legal frameworks. Challenges such as lack of technological equipment, corruption, personnel shortage were highlighted as key factors undermining the efficacy of the institutional frameworks. Additionally, the study explored best practices from international contexts, providing a comparative analysis for informed recommendations for reforms. These recommendations aimed to improve the state of the legal and institutional frameworks, ensuring better and effective discharge of their duties in Nigeria. The findings emphasized the need for the government, legislature, law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to adopt pragmatic measures to curb kidnapping in Nigeria.