The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere has raised alarm over the evolving methods of terrorist groups in Nigeria. The group revealed that kidnappers now demand unconventional ransom items, including narcotics and human beings, alongside traditional monetary payments.
Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, disclosed that terrorist groups operating in various parts of Nigeria have expanded their ransom requirements beyond cash. According to Adebanjo, these groups now specifically request drugs such as cocaine and Indian hemp. Furthermore, he stated that the criminals have demanded virgins as part of their ransom conditions.
“The terrorists are now demanding drugs like cocaine, Indian hemp, and even virgins as ransom,” Adebanjo stated. He added that this development marked a disturbing shift in the operational tactics of criminal elements terrorizing Nigerian communities.
The Afenifere leader linked these new demands to the broader failure of security apparatus in the country. He noted that the situation demonstrated the impunity with which armed groups now operated across Nigerian territories. Additionally, he pointed out that the inclusion of human trafficking elements in ransom negotiations represented a dangerous escalation.
“This shows the level of decadence and the failure of our security system,” Adebanjo remarked. He emphasized that such demands indicated the terrorists had established supply chains for illicit substances and human exploitation.
The organization urged the federal government to overhaul its security strategies. Adebanjo stressed that conventional approaches had proven inadequate against the evolving threat. Consequently, he called for international cooperation and intelligence sharing to dismantle the networks sustaining these criminal activities.
“We cannot continue to treat this as a local problem when the terrorists have access to international drug markets,” he said. He maintained that the demand for virgins specifically highlighted the gender-based dimensions of the terror crisis.
