The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 5 in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, who was kidnapped a few days ago, has reportedly died in the custody of his abductors.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped by armed men at his farm entrance on Ifon-Owo Road in Ifon, the local government headquarters, on Monday.
The gunmen allegedly called the family and demanded a ransom of N100 million for his release, but the family apparently raised N5 million.
The situation took a turn when the bandits, dissatisfied with the amount offered, detained the two guys who delivered the money to them.
They allegedly phoned the family again and wanted N30 million to release the three victims.
However, it was reported that the hoodlums shot the APC chieftain dead and liberated the two other captives on Friday.
Mr Clement Ojo, chairman of Ose Local Government, confirmed the party chieftain’s death in a statement released on Sunday, describing it as sad and painful.
He said, “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.”
“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 called the dead guy a guy who was committed to the party’s advancement, and the grassroots community will be remembered and recognised in perpetuity.
Describing the degree of insecurity in the local government, Ojo said, “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.”
All efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Olayinka Ayanlade, on the situation were fruitless as of the time of filing this report, as his telephone line was not available.
