Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 5 in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nelson Adepoyigi, kidnapped a few days ago, has been killed despite the payment of a N5 million ransom.
The kidnappers demanded a sum of N100 million ransom for his release but after a series of negotiations, it was reduced to N5 million, which was paid subsequently.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped by some armed men at his residence along Ifon-Owo road in Ifon, the headquarters of the local government on Monday.
The matter took another twist when the kidnappers detained the two men who took the ransom money to them and demanded a sum of N30 million to release the three victims.
Chairman of Ose Local Government, Clement Ojo, who confirmed the latest development in a statement on Sunday, said the kidnappers shot the APC chieftain dead and freed the two other victims on Friday.
“While we are grateful that the two volunteers have now regained their freedom, it is deeply saddening and utterly painful that the life of Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi was brutally cut short by his captors,” he stated.
“The entire leadership and people of Ose Local Government mourn this tragic loss. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and political associates of the deceased.”
The council Chairman also described the deceased as a man who dedicated to the progress of the party, and the grassroots community will be forever remembered and honoured.
While the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olutokunbo Afolabi, said the police could not yet confirm the killing, he noted that a special police unit had been deployed to Ifon to investigate the reports circulating on social media.
Ojo decried the state of insecurity in the local government.
“We are now at a critical juncture where security challenges have become a serious threat to the safety and freedom of our people.
“Only a few days before this incident, another resident narrowly escaped being kidnapped while parking his motorcycle. This pattern of brazen abductions, even at the very gates of people’s homes, confirms that insecurity has taken a dangerous and intolerable dimension.”
