Nigeria’s rising insecurity has again come under intense criticism as the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, condemned the disturbing tactics used by bandits and kidnappers across the country.
The group expressed outrage over recent reports that some criminal gangs are now demanding highly unusual items—including virgins, illicit drugs and large sums of money—as ransom before releasing abducted victims.
According to the organisation, such demands highlight the worsening state of rising insecurity affecting communities in different parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, warned that the growing wave of kidnappings and bandit attacks has become a national emergency.
He explained that the pattern of violence recorded in several states shows that the country is facing a serious security breakdown that requires urgent and decisive intervention.
Ajayi said the latest reports about ransom demands by kidnappers illustrate the depth of cruelty and moral collapse among the criminal groups terrorising citizens.
He described the development as both shocking and deeply troubling, noting that it demonstrates the extreme level to which rising insecurity has deteriorated in Nigeria.
One of the incidents cited by the organisation involved kidnappers who reportedly demanded ₦1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer as part of the conditions for releasing the body of a victim who had died while in captivity.
According to Afenifere, the demand was a disturbing example of the brutality and lack of empathy displayed by criminals who continue to prey on innocent citizens.
Even more shocking, the abductors were said to have demanded that virgins be brought to them in exchange for the release of four men they had previously kidnapped.
The organisation described the demand as outrageous and a sign of how deeply the country’s rising insecurity has emboldened criminal elements.
The group therefore urged governments at all levels, as well as security agencies, to intensify their efforts to restore safety and protect citizens from the growing threat posed by bandits and kidnappers.
Ajayi also drew attention to the harsh treatment often experienced by victims in captivity.
According to him, abductees are frequently subjected to severe beatings, humiliation and psychological torture by their captors.
He lamented that in some cases, families pay ransom in the hope of securing the release of their loved ones, only to discover later that the victims have already been killed.
Such incidents, he said, further reflect the tragic consequences of rising insecurity across the country.
To illustrate the severity of the situation, the Afenifere spokesperson cited several attacks recorded in different states.
These include assaults on churches, police stations, private homes and travellers on major highways.
He also referenced the displacement of several communities in Kwara State as a result of repeated attacks by armed groups.
Farmers have also reportedly been targeted in various rural areas, forcing many to abandon their farmlands for fear of being kidnapped or killed.
In Oyo State, Ajayi mentioned the frequent attacks on travellers along the Igbeti-Kisi road in the Oke-Ogun region, where criminals have reportedly ambushed motorists and abducted passengers.
Similarly, cases of kidnapping have been recorded in Ekiti State, where some victims were reportedly killed while their bodies were still used to demand ransom from their families.
Ajayi lamented that even residential neighbourhoods, which were once considered safe spaces, are no longer immune from attacks.
He pointed to an incident in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where a couple was attacked outside their home.
During the assault, the husband was reportedly shot while trying to prevent the kidnappers from taking his wife away.
Other incidents mentioned in the statement include the abduction of Elder Igwe, father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, who was kidnapped while travelling to church on Sunday, March 1.
In Erinmope-Ekiti, a family of five was reportedly kidnapped around 7 p.m. while residents were attending evening prayers at a mosque.
The incident further heightened fears among residents already worried about rising insecurity in the area.
Ajayi also referred to reports from the Federal Capital Territory, where bandits allegedly moved from house to house in Kubwa, Abuja, robbing and abducting residents earlier in the week.
According to Afenifere, similar attacks have also been recorded in Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina and Kaduna states.
The group further revealed that refugees returning from neighbouring Cameroon have reportedly fallen victim to attacks in parts of Bauchi State, raising additional concerns about the spread of criminal activity across the country.
Despite the disturbing developments, Afenifere insisted that the security crisis is not impossible to overcome.
Ajayi stressed that bandits are ordinary individuals and not supernatural forces, noting that effective coordination among security agencies can help defeat them.
However, he emphasised the need to cut off the financial and logistical support that enables criminal groups to operate.
According to the organisation, sources of funding for bandit groups may include wealthy sponsors, illegal mining activities, ransom payments and protection money collected from vulnerable communities.
Afenifere also called for a thorough investigation into the activities of foreign actors allegedly involved in illegal mining operations that may be contributing to the displacement of local communities.
Ajayi noted that several arrested bandits have previously confessed that they received support from sponsors who provided funds, weapons and intelligence for their operations.
He therefore urged security agencies to identify and prosecute these sponsors while dismantling the networks that supply weapons and resources to criminal groups.
The organisation also called for intensified security operations in forests and remote areas where bandits often establish hideouts.
In addition, Ajayi stressed the need to address corruption and sabotage within security institutions, warning that such practices weaken the country’s response to rising insecurity.
He further recommended improved welfare and motivation for security personnel who are risking their lives to protect citizens.
Afenifere also reiterated its support for the establishment of state police as part of broader security reforms aimed at strengthening law enforcement at the local level.
The organisation commended President Bola Tinubu for advocating the creation of state police and for urging the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments required for its implementation.
It also praised the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for setting up a committee to develop operational frameworks for the deployment of state police.
Finally, Afenifere urged governors in the South-West to strengthen local security strategies, conduct regular surveillance of vulnerable communities and collaborate closely with federal authorities.
According to the group, only a coordinated national effort and comprehensive security reforms can effectively tackle the challenges posed by Nigeria’s persistent rising insecurity.
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