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

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Nigeria’s security crisis has taken a disturbing new dimension as the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has warned that kidnappers operating in parts of the South-West are increasingly making unusual and degrading demands during ransom negotiations, including requests for virgins and hard drugs. The group says the trend reflects a worsening pattern of brutality by criminal gangs targeting communities across the region.

The alarm was raised in a statement issued by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, who described the development as a troubling escalation in the tactics used by kidnappers. According to the statement, some criminal groups have begun incorporating non-monetary demands into ransom negotiations, including narcotics and other items that go beyond traditional cash payments. 

Ajayi explained that in certain cases, abductors demanded a ransom package that included cash payments along with illegal substances such as Indian hemp, cocaine, and a synthetic drug commonly referred to as “ICE.” The kidnappers also reportedly asked for cartons of alcoholic beverages as part of the conditions for negotiating the release of victims. 

More disturbing, according to the statement, were cases in which the kidnappers allegedly requested virgins as part of the ransom conditions. Ajayi said one such incident involved criminals demanding that virgins be brought to them in exchange for the release of four men they had previously abducted. The group described the demand as evidence of the extreme cruelty and moral decay among the gangs operating in affected areas. 

The disclosure forms part of a broader warning issued by Afenifere regarding the growing wave of insecurity across the South-West. The organisation noted that many communities across states such as Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, and Kwara have experienced an increase in kidnappings, violent attacks, and killings in recent months. According to the group, the persistent attacks have left many residents living in fear. 

Ajayi cited multiple incidents illustrating the deteriorating security situation. In Ondo State, for example, a man was reportedly shot while attempting to stop gunmen from abducting his wife outside their home in Akure. In another incident in Ekiti State, an entire family of five was kidnapped from their residence during evening hours while other residents were attending mosque prayers. 

The organisation also referenced attacks on churches, police stations, and residential communities across the region, as well as killings of farmers and attacks on travellers along major roads. In parts of Oyo State, particularly along the Igbeti-Kisi road in the Oke-Ogun area, armed groups have reportedly targeted motorists and rural farmers, raising concerns about the safety of transportation routes and agricultural activities. 

Afenifere said the trend shows that homes and communities that were once considered safe environments are increasingly becoming targets for kidnappers. The group warned that criminal gangs appear to be growing more emboldened, often carrying out attacks on residential areas and highways without fear of immediate interception by security forces.

The organisation further linked the crisis in the South-West to the broader national security challenges facing Nigeria. It pointed to similar attacks and kidnappings reported in other parts of the country, including states such as Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Borno. According to the group, the pattern indicates that banditry and kidnapping networks have expanded beyond their original strongholds into multiple regions.

Afenifere also raised concerns about the treatment of kidnapped victims while in captivity. According to the statement, victims are frequently subjected to beatings, humiliation, and harsh conditions while negotiations for their release are ongoing. The group said such treatment underscores the urgent need for stronger security interventions. 

The organisation urged the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify operations against kidnapping gangs and dismantle their networks across forests and rural corridors. Ajayi stressed that criminal groups involved in banditry rely on supply chains for weapons, drugs, and funding, and that cutting off these resources would significantly weaken their operations. 

Another major recommendation from the group was the establishment of state police. Afenifere argued that decentralised policing would enable local authorities to respond more quickly to security threats within their jurisdictions. The organisation has long advocated for state policing as a way to strengthen local security structures and improve intelligence gathering in communities.

The group also called on governors in the South-West region to strengthen surveillance of forests and rural communities, which it said have become major hideouts for kidnappers and bandits. Improved monitoring of these areas, according to the organisation, could help security agencies detect criminal movements and prevent attacks before they occur. 

Stone Reporters note that the warning from Afenifere highlights a disturbing shift in the dynamics of kidnapping in Nigeria. As criminal gangs become more brazen and unconventional in their demands, the challenge facing security agencies is not only to rescue victims but also to dismantle the networks that sustain kidnapping operations across multiple regions of the country.

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