Which situation best describes the act of unlawfully taking a person against their will?

The act of unlawfully taking a person against their will is best described as kidnapping. This term specifically refers to the illegal act of seizing and carrying away a person by force or fraud, often with the intent to hold them for ransom or other purposes. Kidnapping involves aspects such as the lack of consent from the victim and the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the victim of their freedom.

While abduction is a term that can be seen as synonymous with kidnapping, it often refers to a broader scope of forcibly taking someone, and may not always imply the same legal consequences as kidnapping does. A hostage situation involves taking a person against their will but typically with the intention of negotiating for something or as leverage, rather than the act of custody itself. Theft pertains to taking property without the owner's consent and does not involve people, making it inapplicable in this context. Thus, kidnapping is the most precise term for the situation described.