The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the death of retired Army Major Joe Ajayi at the hands of his kidnappers after his family paid a N10 million ransom for his release.
The command’s spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lokoja.
According to reports, Ajayi, 76, was kidnapped from his home in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi, on May 21.
According to the Bunu Leaders Forum, Ovye-Aya confirmed that the deceased former army officer’s remains had been recovered and put in the Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
He did, however, assure that the command will go to every length to find individuals responsible for the heinous conduct, arrest them, and punish them according to the law.
Similarly, Prof. Olu Obafemi, the Chairman of the Bunu Leaders Forum, and Dr Ade Abanida, the Secretary, both corroborated the incident.
According to them, the kidnappers first sought a ransom of N50 million, which the family was unable to pay; as a result, the deceased’s health deteriorated due to a shortage of medications.
“The kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N10 million after discovering that his condition was critical.
“The family, who reportedly thought that he was still alive, quickly agreed and paid the ransom to the kidnappers.
“Thereafter, the kidnappers directed the family to where they could find him, but shockingly, they only found his lifeless body.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Sunday Karimi, who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District, characterised the killing of the retired army officer as a “very unfortunate and sad development”.
Karimi, in a statement made in Lokoja, expressed concern over the district’s security condition.
According to him, kidnappers have taken over Kogi West, and people are terrified to leave their homes.
