In a bizarre yet disturbing turn of events, a Nigerian man was reportedly kidnapped on his way home after buying fufu—only to regain his freedom after a ₦5 million ransom was paid, along with food supplies demanded by his abductors. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
The strange but true incident took place in Delta State, as reported on X (formerly Twitter), sparking outrage and concern across social media. According to details shared online, the man had simply gone out to buy food—fufu, a common Nigerian staple—when he was suddenly abducted by unknown gunmen.
After days of silence and anxiety, the victim’s family finally gave in to the kidnappers’ demands, raising the hefty ₦5 million ransom. In a twist that underscores the surreal nature of the crime, they were also instructed to deliver food items to the kidnappers before the man could be released.
As expected, social media exploded with reactions, with many Nigerians using the incident to voice their frustration over rising insecurity and the government’s perceived inaction.
Here’s how some netizens responded:
@Adeomo_ola: “We have a president, yet people are kidnapped daily while the government focuses on tracking tweets they don’t like. Why can’t they track calls like this?”
@ceasarokoli: “Most of these kidnappers operate with help from insiders. If he checks well, his abductors might be closer than he thinks.”
@231sammy231: “Asking the diaspora for help won’t fix this. Nigerians need to rise and demand their rights. Security is basic!”
@Alhajidon: “What happened to SIM registration and tracking? Why can’t they trace these criminals?”
@iam_Bonex: “So much for KYC and SIM verification. What’s the use if criminals are still untouchable?”
@UnlimitedEniola: “He went out to buy fufu worth less than ₦2k and ended up costing his family ₦5 million. Nigeria is beyond broken.”
This incident paints a chilling picture of the state of insecurity in the country, where simple daily errands can spiral into nightmares—and where victims are left to fend for themselves in a system failing to deliver basic protection.
What does it say about a nation when even buying fufu can land you in a kidnappers’ den?
