Bandits Now Demand Virgins and Drugs in Ransom Talks Across South-West, Afenifere Warns

 The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has sounded the alarm over the worsening security situation in South-Western Nigeria, pointing to a disturbing new twist in kidnapping cases where armed groups are making increasingly bizarre and cruel demands during ransom negotiations.

In a strongly worded statement released recently, Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, described how bandits and kidnappers have escalated their brutality, not only holding victims for cash but also insisting on items like hard drugs and even young women described as virgins as part of the payment for release. The group highlighted one particularly shocking incident where abductors demanded N1.5 million in cash, quantities of Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and several cartons of canned beer—just to hand over the body of a victim who had already died in captivity.

Ajayi went on to note another case that he called "hilarious" in its audacity, though clearly meant to feature the depth of depravity involved: the kidnappers reportedly asked for virgins to be provided in exchange for the freedom of four men they had taken earlier. These revelations, according to the statement, illustrate the extreme heartlessness of the criminals now operating in parts of the region.

The statement painted a bigger picture of insecurity gripping Yorubaland and nearby areas. Afenifere pointed to near-daily attacks involving abductions, beatings, and killings. In Ondo State, for instance, churches, police stations, private residences, and major highways have come under assault. Communities in Kwara State have faced raids leading to mass displacement, while in Oyo State's Oke Ogun area, farmers have been murdered and travellers ambushed along roads like the Igbeti-Kisi route. Ekiti State has seen cases where kidnappers kill their captives and still demand payment before releasing the remains to grieving families.

Ajayi cited specific recent episodes to drive home the urgency. A couple in Akure, Ondo State, was attacked right outside their home, with the husband shot as he tried to stop his wife's abduction. In another case, Elder Igwe—the father of a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State—was kidnapped on his way to church on Sunday, March 1. A family in Erinmope-Ekiti lost five members in a single evening raid at around 7 pm, even as people gathered for prayers at a nearby mosque. The statement also referenced reports of bandits moving house to house in Kubwa, Abuja, robbing and abducting residents earlier this week.

Afenifere expressed deep concern that these incidents signal a deliberate push by terrorist elements—often linked to groups from the North-West—into South-Western territories. The organisation urged Southwest governors to take immediate and decisive action. It called for coordinated raids on forest hideouts where bandits are believed to be sheltering, regular surveillance of bush areas, and closer collaboration with the federal government to speed up the establishment of state police forces in the region.

The group stressed that the persistent failure to curb these threats is allowing criminal networks to grow bolder, devaluing human life and spreading fear among ordinary people going about their daily routines. Afenifere reiterated its long-standing position that stronger local security measures, including community vigilance and better-equipped law enforcement, are essential to reclaiming safety in Yorubaland.

As these reports circulate, many in the affected states are left grappling with the reality that ransom demands have moved far beyond money into realms of unimaginable cruelty. The hope now rests on swift responses from both state and federal authorities to prevent further escalation and protect vulnerable communities from this growing menace.