Bandits Now Demand Drugs, Virgins During Ransom Negotiations In South-West — Afenifere Raises Alarm

 

Bandits Now Demand Drugs, Virgins During Ransom Negotiations In South-West — Afenifere Raises Alarm

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised serious concerns over worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s South-West region, revealing that some kidnappers are now making unusual and disturbing demands during ransom negotiations.

In a statement released on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said residents across several South-West states are increasingly worried about the growing number of violent attacks and kidnappings.

According to Ajayi, armed groups have reportedly been attacking communities, targeting farmers and travellers, and invading homes and places of worship in recent months.

He cited several incidents across states such as Ondo State, Oyo State, Ekiti State, and Kwara State, where gunmen allegedly attacked communities, killed residents, and abducted victims for ransom.

Ajayi stated that the nature of the demands made by the kidnappers reflects the growing cruelty of the criminals.

In some reported cases, abductors demanded ₦1.5 million alongside items such as Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer before agreeing to release victims.

He further revealed that in another incident, kidnappers reportedly asked for virgins in exchange for the release of four men who had been abducted.

The Afenifere spokesman lamented that homes, which were once considered safe places, are now being targeted by criminals.

He referenced an incident in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, where a man was reportedly shot while trying to prevent his wife from being abducted in front of their house.

Ajayi also mentioned similar cases in Ekiti State where entire families were kidnapped from their homes. He also referred to reports of bandits moving from house to house in Kubwa, robbing and abducting residents.

Beyond the South-West, he said similar attacks have been reported in several other states including Plateau State, Benue State, Borno State, Kebbi State, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Katsina State and Kaduna State.

Despite the worrying situation, Ajayi said the security challenge is not impossible to solve.

He urged the government to identify and prosecute those funding and sponsoring banditry, while also cutting off the supply of weapons and financial resources used by the criminal groups.

The organisation also renewed its call for the establishment of state police across Nigeria and urged governors in the South-West to strengthen surveillance in forests and rural areas where criminal groups often operate.

Afenifere stressed that stronger cooperation between federal and state authorities is necessary to effectively tackle the growing threat of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the country.