The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, revealing that bandits and kidnappers have now resorted to demanding virgins and hard drugs as ransom for abducted victims.
In a strongly-worded press statement released on Saturday, March 7, 2026, by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organisation condemned the unprecedented and bizarre demands being made by criminals terrorising communities across the country, particularly in South-Western Nigeria.
Shocking Ransom Demands
According to Ajayi, the heartlessness of these criminals has reached alarming levels. In one incident, kidnappers demanded N1.5 million, Indian hemp (igbo), cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer for the release of a corpse in their captivity.
“The kidnappers even hilariously asked for virgins to be brought in exchange for four men who they had previously abducted,” the statement read, highlighting the absurdity and depravity of the criminals’ demands.
This disturbing development represents a new low in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, as bandits continue to devise increasingly outrageous ransom conditions.
Nationwide Insecurity Crisis
Afenifere painted a grim picture of the security situation across multiple states, citing numerous incidents that demonstrate the brazenness of these criminal elements.
The organisation lamented that victims are now being treated in the most barbaric manner, suffering merciless beatings and humiliation at the hands of their abductors. Even more troubling, some victims lose their lives even after ransom has been paid for their release.
Notable Incidents Include:
Oyo State: Farmers have been killed and travellers attacked along the Igbeti-Kisi road in Oke-Ogun area.
Ekiti State: Multiple kidnap cases where victims were killed and their corpses held for ransom. In Erinmope-Ekiti, a family of five was abducted at 7 p.m. while people were at the mosque for evening prayers.
Ondo State: A couple was attacked in front of their home in Akure, with the husband shot while trying to prevent his wife from being kidnapped.
Kwara State: Entire communities have been sacked by bandits.
Abuja: Bandits reportedly went from house to house in Kubwa earlier in the week, robbing and abducting residents.
Ebonyi State: Elder Igwe, father of a former deputy governor, was abducted on his way to church on Sunday, March 1.
Similar protracted attacks have been reported in Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna States. Even refugees returning from Cameroon fell victim to bandits in Bauchi State.
No Safe Haven Anymore
Ajayi lamented that the home, once considered a safe haven for Nigerians, is no longer secure.
“Until recently, the home environment was considered a ‘safe haven.’ Unfortunately, that is no longer the case,” he stated.
In a particularly chilling case from Edo State, kidnappers abducted a medical doctor and his brother, killed the younger sibling, but released the doctor after receiving ransom payment.
Ironically, when the daughter of one of the kidnappers fell ill, the doctor—who was on duty at the hospital—recognised the perpetrators and alerted the police, leading to their arrest.
“The point here is that the bandit values the life of his daughter by seeking medical care for her, yet saw nothing wrong in killing other people,” Ajayi recounted, highlighting the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of these criminals.
Solutions: Bandits Are Not Invincible
Despite the dire situation, Ajayi insisted that the problem is not insurmountable, emphasising that “bandits are neither spirits nor invincible.”
Afenifere called for decisive action to tackle the root causes of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria:
Recommended Actions:
1. Cut Off Funding Sources: Investigate and prosecute unscrupulous wealthy individuals, local and international organisations, and state actors who sponsor these criminals.
2. Stop Protection Money: End the practice of communities paying protection money or ‘harvest fees’ to bandits.
3. Investigate Foreign Actors: Probe foreign actors involved in illegal mining who may be driving the sacking of communities.
4. Pursue Sponsors: Confessions from apprehended bandits have revealed they have sponsors. These sponsors and their intermediaries must be pursued and prosecuted.
5. Block Weapons Supply: Cut off sources of funding and weapons to criminal gangs.
6. Raid Hideouts: Intensify efforts to raid bushes and forests where bandits hide.
7. Tackle Internal Corruption: Address corruption and sabotage within security forces while properly motivating personnel.
8. Establish State Police: Ensure the immediate establishment of state police across the federation.
Commendation for Tinubu and IGP Disu
Afenifere commended President Bola Tinubu for his determination in advancing the State Police initiative, particularly his call on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments for its immediate take-off.
The organisation also praised the new Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for inaugurating a committee to determine modalities for State Police deployment.
Call to South-West Governors
Afenifere reiterated its call for South-West governors to implement urgent measures, including:
– Raiding bandits’ hideouts across the region
– Maintaining constant surveillance of vulnerable areas
– Cooperating fully with the Federal Government to ensure prompt establishment of state police systems in their respective states
As Nigeria grapples with this unprecedented security challenge, the call for coordinated action between federal and state governments, security agencies, and communities has never been more urgent.
The question remains: Will Nigerian leaders respond swiftly and decisively before the situation deteriorates further?
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