Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has taken a disturbing twist as kidnappers are now reportedly demanding virgins and hard drugs as ransom for abducted victims.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, sounded the alarm over the shocking development, condemning the barbaric demands and calling for urgent action by the federal and state governments.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, decried the growing wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across the country, particularly in the South-West.
“The greatest demonstration of the heartlessness of these evil-doers was their demands 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 read. “The kidnappers even hilariously asked for virgins to be brought in exchange for four men they had previously abducted.”
Ajayi lamented the brutal treatment of victims in the hands of kidnappers, noting that many victims suffer severe beatings, humiliation, and in some cases death, even after ransom payments have been made.
He also cited repeated attacks on communities, churches, police stations, homes, and highways across several states including Kwara, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna.
The group urged government at all levels and security agencies to intensify the fight against banditry by cutting off the financial sources of criminal gangs.
Afenifere also called for investigations into the role of foreign actors in illegal mining, a crackdown on corruption within security agencies, better welfare for security personnel, and the establishment of state police.
Despite the rising concerns, the group commended President Bola Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for their ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
