Lagos, Nigeria – March 8, 2026 – The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has issued a stark warning over the escalating wave of terrorist and bandit attacks sweeping through the South-West region, revealing disturbing new details about the barbarity of criminals now terrorizing communities.
In a press release on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, painted a grim picture of a region under siege, where kidnappers are making bizarre and inhumane ransom demands that include drugs and even human beings .
According to Afenifere, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that abductors are now demanding combinations of cash, narcotics, and alcohol for the release of captives—including corpses. In one chilling case cited by the group, kidnappers allegedly demanded ₦1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, the synthetic drug ICE, and cartons of canned beer just to release a body in their custody .
Even more shocking, the criminals reportedly asked that virgins be brought in exchange for the release of four kidnapped men, a demand Ajayi described as “the greatest demonstration of the heartlessness of these evil-doers” .
Afenifere warned that attacks have been spreading across several South-West states including Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Kwara, where communities, travellers, and farmers have been repeatedly targeted . The group stressed that homes, once considered safe havens, are no longer secure.
“Until recently, the home environment was considered a ‘safe haven’. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case,” Ajayi stated, recounting an incident in Akure where a man was shot while trying to prevent his wife from being abducted outside their residence .
In another case, a family of five was kidnapped in the evening in Erinmope-Ekiti while neighbours were away for prayers, highlighting the brazen nature of these attacks .
The group also noted the abduction of Elder Igwe, father of a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, who was seized on his way to church on Sunday, March 1, 2026 .
While focusing on the South-West, Afenifere observed that similar protracted attacks have been reported in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna States, with returning refugees from Cameroon also falling victim in Bauchi State .
The group recounted a telling case from Edo State involving a kidnapped medical doctor whose brother was killed by their abductors. When the daughter of one kidnapper later fell ill, the doctor—on duty at the hospital—recognized the perpetrators and alerted police, leading 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 observed, underscoring the moral bankruptcy of these criminals .
Despite the grim situation, Afenifere insisted that bandits are neither spirits nor invincible, calling for stronger action against their sponsors, funding networks, and weapons supply chains .
The group identified multiple funding sources for terrorists and bandits, including unscrupulous wealthy individuals, local and international organizations, some state actors, communities paying protection money or “harvest fees,” ransom from captives, and outright theft .
Ajayi urged investigation into foreign actors involved in illegal mining who may be driving the sacking of communities, noting that confessions from apprehended bandits have revealed the existence of sponsors .
“What needs to be done includes going decisively after the sponsors of the bandits and their middlemen, blocking the sources of their funding and weapons, raiding the bushes in which they harbour, effectively blocking corruption and sabotage in the forces, empowering and motivating security personnel, as well as the immediate take-off of state police,” the statement read .
Afenifere commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his determination in advancing state police, citing his call on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments for their immediate establishment .
The organization also praised the new Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for inaugurating a committee to determine modalities for state police deployment, describing the move as a commitment to reforming Nigeria’s security architecture .
Afenifere reiterated its call on South-West governors to immediately implement measures to raid bandit hideouts, maintain constant surveillance of vulnerable areas, and cooperate fully with the Federal Government to ensure the prompt establishment of state police in their respective states .
The group also urged governments to cut off funding sources for criminals and to ensure that intelligence gathered is acted upon decisively in the interest of the people, rather than being ignored or politicized .
As insecurity continues to grip parts of Nigeria, Afenifere’s latest warning serves as a wake-up call to both federal and state authorities. The bizarre nature of ransom demands—mixing cash with narcotics and human beings—reflects a new depth of criminal depravity that demands an equally robust response.
With communities living in fear and the sanctity of the home now breached, the organization’s message is clear: the time for half-measures is over. Decisive action against terrorist sponsors, enhanced funding for security agencies, and the swift establishment of state police are no longer optional but imperative for the survival of peace and order in Yorubaland and beyond.
