The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has strongly condemned the disturbing and unusual demands reportedly made by bandits and kidnappers across parts of Nigeria, including requests for virgins and hard drugs as ransom in exchange for abducted victims.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the organisation described the demands as a shocking sign of the worsening security situation in the country. The statement was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, who raised serious concerns about the rising wave of kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and violent crimes in several states, particularly in South-Western Nigeria.
According to Afenifere, the nature of the demands made by criminal groups demonstrates a disturbing level of cruelty and moral collapse among kidnappers who have continued to terrorise communities across the country.
Ajayi revealed that in a recent case, bandits demanded N1.5 million in cash, alongside Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer as ransom for the release of a victim who had already died in captivity.
The group described the demand as a chilling demonstration of the heartlessness of the criminals.
“The greatest demonstration of the heartlessness of these evil-doers was their demand for N1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer for the release of a corpse in their captivity,” the statement said.
Even more disturbing, the kidnappers allegedly made another bizarre demand during negotiations with families of victims. According to Ajayi, the criminals requested that virgins be brought in exchange for the release of four men who had previously been abducted.
Afenifere described the request as both shocking and inhumane, warning that such actions reveal the depth of the crisis facing the country.
The organisation used the statement to highlight the growing insecurity affecting many parts of Nigeria. Ajayi said that kidnapping, terrorism, and violent attacks have become increasingly common, spreading from the northern parts of the country to other regions, including the South-West.
He warned that communities that were once considered relatively safe are now under threat from criminal groups who operate with increasing boldness.
Afenifere lamented the brutal treatment of kidnapped victims, noting that abductees are often subjected to severe beatings, humiliation, and torture while in captivity.
In many cases, Ajayi said, victims are killed even after their families have paid large sums of money as ransom.
He cited several incidents across the country where victims were murdered despite meeting the demands of kidnappers.
The organisation also expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks targeting churches, police stations, private homes, and highways.
Ajayi referenced a number of recent violent incidents to illustrate the seriousness of the security crisis.
In Kwara State, for instance, entire communities have reportedly been forced to flee their homes after repeated attacks by bandits.
Similarly, farmers have been killed in their fields while travellers have been ambushed along major roads.
Ajayi specifically mentioned the Igbeti-Kisi road in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, where travellers have reportedly faced attacks from armed criminals.
In Ekiti State, he said, there have been several cases of kidnapping in which victims were killed and their bodies held for ransom by their abductors.
These incidents, according to Afenifere, highlight the extreme cruelty of the criminal networks responsible for the attacks.
One of the most troubling developments, Ajayi noted, is that private homes are no longer safe havens for many Nigerians.
“Until recently, the home environment was considered a safe haven. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case,” he said.
He cited a recent incident in Akure, Ondo State, where a couple was attacked right in front of their home.
During the attack, the husband was shot while attempting to prevent the kidnappers from abducting his wife.
Another troubling case involved the kidnapping of Elder Igwe, the father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, who was abducted while travelling to church on Sunday, March 1.
Ajayi also mentioned a disturbing incident in Erinmope-Ekiti, where a family of five was kidnapped at about 7 p.m. while residents were attending evening prayers at a mosque.
Similarly, criminals reportedly moved from house to house in Kubwa, Abuja, robbing residents and abducting several people during an overnight operation earlier in the week.
Ajayi warned that the problem is not limited to a few states but has spread across many parts of the country.
He said similar attacks have been recorded in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
In Bauchi State, he added, even refugees who recently returned from neighbouring Cameroon have reportedly become victims of violent attacks.
The widespread nature of the violence, according to Afenifere, shows that urgent action is needed to tackle the security crisis before it worsens further.
Ajayi also shared a striking story from Edo State involving a kidnapped medical doctor and his younger brother.
According to him, the kidnappers eventually killed the doctor’s brother but released the doctor after receiving ransom from the family.
However, fate later intervened in an unexpected way.
The daughter of one of the kidnappers reportedly fell seriously ill and was taken to a hospital where the same doctor was working.
Recognising the kidnappers, the doctor alerted the authorities, leading to their eventual arrest.
Ajayi said the incident revealed the hypocrisy of criminals who value the lives of their own relatives while showing no regard for the lives of others.
“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,” he said.
Despite the severity of the security crisis, Afenifere insisted that the problem is not impossible to solve.
Ajayi stressed that bandits are not supernatural beings and can be defeated with the right strategies.
“Terrorism and kidnapping are rampant, but the problem is not insurmountable. Bandits are neither spirits nor invincible,” he said.
He emphasised the need to cut off the funding sources that sustain criminal networks.
According to him, bandits receive support from a variety of sources, including wealthy individuals, criminal organisations, and ransom payments from victims’ families.
Ajayi also noted that some communities are forced to pay so-called “protection money” or “harvest fees” to criminal groups to avoid attacks.
He warned that these payments ultimately strengthen the operations of bandits.
Afenifere also called on security agencies to investigate the sponsors of banditry.
Ajayi said confessions obtained from arrested bandits have shown that many of them are backed by powerful individuals who provide funding, weapons, and logistical support.
“Confessions from apprehended and tried bandits revealed they had sponsors,” he said.
He therefore urged authorities to pursue those sponsors and dismantle the financial networks behind the criminal activities.
The group also called for investigations into foreign actors involved in illegal mining, suggesting that some of the violence in rural communities may be linked to competition over mineral resources.
As part of its recommendations, Afenifere urged the government to establish state police as a way to strengthen local security.
The organisation commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to advance the creation of state police across the country.
Ajayi noted that the president had recently urged the National Assembly to accelerate constitutional amendments needed for the policy to take effect.
Afenifere also praised the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for setting up a committee to develop the framework for the implementation of state policing.
Finally, the organisation called on governors in the South-West region to take stronger action against criminal groups operating in forests and rural areas.
It urged them to intensify surveillance in vulnerable communities, raid bandits’ hideouts, and cooperate closely with the Federal Government and security agencies.
Afenifere concluded by stressing that a coordinated national effort involving federal, state, and local authorities is necessary to restore safety and stability across Nigeria.
