Terrorists now demand drugs, virgins for hostages — Afenifere

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised alarm over the worsening security situation in South-West Nigeria, alleging that terrorists and kidnappers are now demanding drugs and even virgins as part of ransom for abducted victims.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, condemned the increasing wave of attacks across the region and urged both federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping.

Ajayi said the Yoruba people were deeply worried by the near-daily loss of lives in several states, describing the treatment of abducted victims as barbaric and inhumane.

He cited several incidents across the region, including attacks on churches, police stations, homes, and highways in Ondo State; displaced communities in Kwara State; killings of farmers and attacks on travellers along the Igbeti–Kisi road in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State; and kidnappings in Ekiti State where victims were reportedly killed and their bodies held for ransom.

Ajayi said some of the demands made by the kidnappers highlight the extreme cruelty of the attackers.

> “The greatest demonstration of the heartlessness of these evil-doers was their demands of ₦1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer for the release of a corpse in their captivity,” he said.

He further revealed that the criminals had made shocking requests in other kidnapping cases.

> “The kidnappers even hilariously asked for virgins to be brought in exchange for four men that they had previously abducted,” Ajayi added.

The Afenifere spokesperson warned that homes are no longer safe, citing a recent incident in Akure, where a man was shot while trying to stop his wife from being abducted outside their residence.

Ajayi also highlighted attacks in other parts of the country, including the abduction of the father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State on his way to church and a family of five kidnapped in Erinmope-Ekiti while residents were observing evening prayers at a mosque.

He also referenced reports of bandits moving from house to house in Kubwa, Abuja, robbing and abducting residents.

According to him, similar attacks have been recorded in several states, including Plateau State, Benue State, Borno State, Kebbi State, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Katsina State and Kaduna State.

Ajayi stressed that bandits are not invincible and called for decisive action to cut off their funding sources, which he said include wealthy sponsors, some state actors, ransom payments, and illegal levies imposed on communities.

He also emphasised the need to pursue those sponsoring the criminal networks, block their access to weapons, dismantle their hideouts in forests, and address corruption within the security system.

The group commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pushing for the creation of state police and praised the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for setting up a committee to work out modalities for its implementation.

Afenifere further urged governors in the South-West to intensify surveillance, raid bandit hideouts, and work closely with the Federal Government to ensure the swift establishment of state police across the region.