Popular Afrobeats singer Ruger (real name Michael Adebayo Olayinka) has raised concerns over escalating kidnapping incidents in Nigeria, issuing a warning as travellers prepare for the holiday season.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Ruger wrote: “I’m scared for people this December. Kidnapping has become a full-time business in some parts of Nigeria and it’s only going to get worse this festive season. People will travel back to their villages from abroad and from many other places in Nigeria. These criminals will strike hard.”
He pointed to those returning home from abroad and other parts of the country as particularly vulnerable, suggesting criminals view such travellers as high-value targets.
Ruger’s warning enters public discourse at a time when the period known as “Detty December” — historically marked by mass travel, parties and reunions — is set to begin. Experts say increased mobility and festive spending may escalate security risks.
While Ruger did not single out specific regions, his comment that kidnapping has become a “business” in some areas underscores a shift in how the crimes are organised — from random attacks to more systematic operations.
Security analysts responding to recent statements note that increased farmland thefts, motor-park raids and highway abductions across several states support the singer’s fears.
One recent report recorded dozens of women and children kidnapped in overnight raids in northern Nigeria.
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In light of the warning, travellers are being urged to adopt heightened vigilance: avoid travelling late at night, use trusted transport channels, share itineraries with family/friends, and remain alert to unusual behaviour around gathering points such as highways or bus terminals.
As the festive season approaches, Ruger’s public voice adds cultural weight to a pressing national security issue — one that will demand greater coordination between citizens, transport operators and security agencies.
