Lagos, Nigeria – October 22, 2025 – As Nigerians gear up for the yuletide celebrations, Afrobeats star Ruger has sounded a sobering alarm, cautioning diaspora returnees—affectionately dubbed IJGBs (I Just Got Back)—about the escalating kidnapping menace threatening their homecoming. In a candid social media post, the 24-year-old singer, born Michael Adebayo Olayinka, described kidnapping as a “full-time business” in parts of the country, predicting a grim spike during the festive period when millions flock back to villages from abroad and across Nigeria.
“K!dn@pp!ng has become a full time business in some parts of Nigeria and it’s only gonna get worse this festive season. People will travel back to their villages from abroad and from many other places in Nigeria,” Ruger wrote on X, using coded language to evade platform filters while underscoring the peril. The post, which has garnered over 50,000 views and thousands of shares, arrives amid a surge in abductions targeting high-value returnees whose foreign currencies make them prime targets for ransom-hungry gangs.
Ruger’s warning aligns with security experts’ forecasts for the “ember months,” when travel peaks and opportunistic crimes flourish. According to a recent analysis by criminologist Adewumi I. Badiora of Olabisi Onabanjo University, the festive season amplifies risks like ransom kidnappings and armed robberies, with no fewer than 4,000 abductions recorded nationwide between June 2022 and July 2023. Rural routes to villages, often poorly policed, become hotspots, as seen in recent raids in Zamfara and Niger states where over 200 villagers were seized in a single month. “Flaunting wealth—be it accents, gadgets, or dollars—advertises your ransom value,” Badiora advised, echoing Ruger’s call for vigilance.
The timing couldn’t be more poignant, with Detty December—the raucous end-of-year party circuit—already underway, drawing IJGBs who inject billions into the economy via heightened spending power from favorable exchange rates. Yet, this influx has a dark underbelly: bandits view returnees as “easy marks,” preying on family reunions in hometowns where security thins out. Just last week, gunmen in Kaduna snatched dozens from a university convoy, demanding millions in ransoms—a pattern experts say will intensify as Christmas approaches.
Ruger’s post has resonated deeply on X, sparking a mix of gratitude and dread. Fans praised his real-talk approach: “Ruger no dey sugarcoat! IJGBs, travel light and smart—Naija no be play-play this season,” one user tweeted, while another shared, “Coming from UK next week… this hit home. Thanks for the heads-up, king.” Advocacy groups like the Bring Back Our Girls Movement amplified the message, urging federal intervention and community watch programs. Critics, however, questioned if celebrity alerts suffice, with one reply noting, “Warnings good, but where’s the action from Tinubu’s govt? 10 years post-Chibok, and we’re still begging for safety.”
Known for hits like “Asiwaju” and his unfiltered takes on everything from relationships to industry beefs, Ruger—fresh off a sold-out London headline gig—positions himself as a voice for the streets. His cautionary note serves as a gritty counterpoint to the festive hype, reminding IJGBs that while home beckons with jollof and joy, the shadows of insecurity loom large.
As the holiday rush builds, security tips abound: stick to convoys, avoid night travel, and shun ostentation. Ruger’s words? A raw reminder that in Naija, even yuletide dreams demand street smarts.
Follow Ruger on X @rugerofficial for more unvarnished truths, and check local advisories before traveling.