Tragedy struck in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, as the Ward 5 Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nelson Adepoyigi, was killed by kidnappers despite receiving a ₦5 million ransom and food items.
Adepoyigi was abducted from his home a few days ago. Initially, the kidnappers demanded ₦100 million, but later reduced the ransom to ₦5 million after negotiations. Two volunteers who delivered the money and supplies were also seized by the kidnappers, who then demanded an additional ₦30 million for the release of all three captives.
However, the abductors later freed the two ransom bearers and killed Adepoyigi.
The Chairman of Ose Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Clement Kolapo Ojo, confirmed the incident in a statement released by his media aide, Oluwaseun Ogunniyi, on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened by the brutal killing of Nelson Adepoyigi,” the statement read. “This act of cruelty has thrown our community into mourning and highlights the growing threat of insecurity in our area.”
Ojo called for vigilance among residents and urged communities to report suspicious activity. He also condemned the rising wave of kidnappings in the state, including a recent attempted abduction of another local resident near his home.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has not officially confirmed Adepoyigi’s death, but the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, said detectives have been deployed to the area to investigate.
The killing has sparked fresh concerns about the worsening state of security in Ondo State, particularly in rural communities.
