Tragedy has struck the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, as Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi, the Ward 5 Chairman in Ose Local Government Area, has reportedly been killed by his abductors after being seized in Ifon.
The grim development unfolded after an initial ransom of N5 million and food supplies were taken to the kidnappers by two individuals seeking Mr. Adepoyigi’s release. Sources indicate that these two individuals were themselves briefly abducted upon delivering the ransom but were subsequently freed.
The kidnappers had initially demanded N100 million for the APC leader’s release, later reducing the sum to N5 million, along with a request for food items. Following the abduction of the ransom bearers, the criminals issued a new demand of N30 million for the release of all three captives.
While the victim’s body is yet to be recovered from the forest, a respected community leader in Ifon, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Mr. Adepoyigi’s death and the safe return of the two individuals who delivered the ransom.
Mr. Clement Ojo, the Chairman of Ose LGA, corroborated the incident, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of the APC chieftain while acknowledging the relief that the two volunteers had been freed.
“The entire leadership and people of Ose Local Government mourn this tragic loss,” stated Mr. Ojo. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and political associates of the deceased. His dedication to the progress of our party and the grassroots community will be forever remembered and honoured.”
The council chairman did not provide details regarding the confirmation of Mr. Adepoyigi’s death or whether any additional ransom was paid beyond the initial N5 million. He did, however, voice deep concern over the escalating rate of kidnappings in the Ose LGA.
“We are now at a critical juncture where security challenges have become a serious threat to the safety and freedom of our people,” Mr. Ojo lamented. “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.”
Mr. Ojo urgently called for the intervention of security agencies to re-evaluate their strategies and ensure prompt responses to intelligence reports. He further recommended the strategic deployment of security personnel and infrastructure to vulnerable communities within Ose LGA and surrounding areas, alongside enhanced surveillance, patrols, and robust community collaboration to effectively detect and deter criminal elements. He emphasized the critical need for the swift apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for this heinous crime to serve as a strong deterrent.
Responding to the incident, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olutokunbo Afolabi, stated that the police could not immediately confirm the killing but had deployed specialized units to Ifon to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
