ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday condemned the growing wave of terrorist attacks across South-West Nigeria, warning that kidnappers now demand drugs and even virgins as part of ransom negotiations.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of attacks, killings and abductions across several states in the region.
Ajayi said the situation had triggered widespread anxiety among the Yoruba people as cases of violent crimes and loss of lives continue to rise.
He cited disturbing cases of kidnapped victims being subjected to brutal beatings and degrading treatment while in captivity.
According to him, the attacks have affected several locations, including churches, police stations, homes and highways in Ondo State, sacked communities in Kwara State, and repeated assaults on farmers and travellers along the Igbeti-Kisi road in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
He also mentioned gruesome kidnappings in Ekiti State, where victims were reportedly killed and their corpses held by abductors who demanded ransom before releasing the bodies.
READ ALSO: Akpabio Backs Death Penalty For Kidnappers
Highlighting the disturbing nature of ransom negotiations, Ajayi said kidnappers have made shocking demands in some cases.
“The greatest demonstration of the heartlessness of these evil-doers was their demands of 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,” he said.
He further revealed that: “The kidnappers even hilariously asked for virgins to be brought in exchange for four men that they had previously abducted.”
Ajayi lamented that homes, once considered safe spaces, were increasingly becoming targets of violent attacks.
“Until recently, the home environment was considered a ‘safe haven’. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. A couple was attacked in front of their home in Akure, Ondo State, with the husband shot while trying to prevent his wife from being abducted,” he said.
The Afenifere spokesman also referenced other incidents across the country, including the abduction of the father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State while he was on his way to church on March 1.
He added that in Erinmope-Ekiti, an entire family of five was abducted around 7 p.m. while residents were observing evening prayers at a mosque.
Ajayi also cited reports of bandits moving from house to house in Kubwa, within Abuja, robbing and abducting residents.
According to him, similar prolonged attacks have been reported across several other states, including Plateau State, Benue State, Borno State, Kebbi State, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Katsina State and Kaduna State, while returning refugees from Cameroon have also reportedly been attacked in Bauchi State.
He also recounted a case involving a kidnapped medical doctor in Edo State.
According to the statement, when the daughter of one of the kidnappers fell ill, the doctor who was on duty at a hospital recognised the perpetrators and alerted the police, which eventually led to their arrest.
“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,” Ajayi noted.
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Afenifere Asks Tinubu To Invoke Executive Order
He emphasised that bandits were neither supernatural nor invincible and could be defeated if authorities take decisive action.
Ajayi urged security agencies to cut off the sources of funding and weapons used by the criminals, noting that such support often comes from wealthy sponsors, local and international organisations, corrupt state actors, communities paying protection money or so-called harvest fees, ransom payments and outright theft.
“Confessions from apprehended and tried bandits revealed they had sponsors,” he said.
“Therefore, it is essential to pursue the sponsors and their intermediaries, block the sources of their funding and weapons, raid the bushes in which they hide, tackle corruption and sabotage within security forces, motivate personnel, and ensure the immediate establishment of state police.”
The group, however, commended Bola Tinubu for pushing the idea of state policing and urging the National Assembly to fast-track constitutional amendments to enable its implementation.
It also praised the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for setting up a committee to work out modalities for the deployment of state police.
Afenifere further called on governors in the South-West to intensify efforts to flush out bandits from forests and vulnerable communities while collaborating with the Federal Government to accelerate the establishment of state police across the region.