Afenifere, the influential Yoruba socio-political group, raises fresh concerns over a wave of terrorist attacks gripping Nigeria’s South-West, where abductors now demand not just cash but also hard drugs and even young virgins in exchange for victims’ lives.
The alert came in a statement from Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, who painted a grim picture of communities under siege.
Terrorists storm homes, farms, and places of worship, leaving families shattered and residents in constant fear.
In one chilling case in Ondo State, terrorists shot a man dead as he tried to prevent them from kidnapping his wife right outside their Akure home.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, entire families face abduction, with terrorists moving door-to-door in areas like Kubwa, robbing and snatching people at gunpoint.
Ajayi highlighted how these demands have grown bizarre and brutal.
Besides millions in naira – such as ₦1.5 million in some instances – terrorists insist on items like Indian hemp, cocaine, the synthetic drug ICE, and cartons of beer.
Even more disturbing, in a recent abduction of four men, the captors demanded virgins as part of the ransom.
Such tactics not only humiliate victims but also deepen the trauma for their loved ones, who scramble to meet these twisted requirements just to secure a release or even retrieve a body.
This escalation marks a sharp rise from previous threats, spreading across states including Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Kwara.
Ajayi pointed out that terrorists exploit forests and rural roads, ambushing travellers and farmers with little resistance.
He linked the South-West’s woes to a nationwide crisis, citing similar violence in Plateau, Benue, and northern states like Borno and Katsina.
“The frequency and audacity of these attacks show a clear failure in security,” Ajayi said, urging immediate action.
Public reaction has been swift and scathing, with many Nigerians venting frustration online.
One commenter mocked the government, suggesting President Tinubu himself could serve as the “drug” ransom, while others lamented the lack of virgins in the region or called the demands a sign of deeper societal decay.
The outcry underscores growing discontent with federal handling of insecurity under the current administration.
In response, Afenifere calls on authorities to hunt down sponsors of these terrorists, cut off their funding and arms supplies, and ramp up patrols.
The group pushes for state police forces, better surveillance in vulnerable areas, and closer ties between federal and state governments.
South-West governors, they argue, must step up and protect their people before the situation spirals further.
As fears mount, residents hope for swift intervention.
Without it, the once-peaceful Yoruba heartlands risk becoming no-go zones, where everyday life hangs by a thread.
