JUST-IN: Kidnapped Ondo APC Chairman Killed After Ransom Payment

The recently kidnapped chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) of Ward 5 in Ose local government area in Ondo State, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi has been killed by his abductors.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the deceased was killed by his abductors despite payment of ransom by his family.

Adepoyigi was abducted at his residence located along Ifon-Owo Road in Ifon, the headquarters of Ose local government, last week Monday.

The kidnappers who had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million from his family, subsequently reduced it to N5 million after negotiations.

Two individuals who took the ransom to the kidnappers were themselves abducted by the hoodlums with a fresh demand of N30 million for their release.

LEADERSHIP, however, gathered that the kidnappers later shot the APC chieftain dead and freed the two other victims on Friday evening.

The Chairman of the local government, Hon. Clement Ojo who confirmed the murder of the politician, described it as “heartbreaking news”.

Ojo stated in a statement that, “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.”

The chairman extended the heartfelt condolences of the local government to the family, friends, and political associates of the deceased politician.

“His dedication to the progress of our party and the grassroots community will be forever remembered and honoured.

“We are now at a critical juncture where security challenges have become a serious threat to the safety and freedom of our people,” he noted.

Ojo recalled that 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,” he lamented.

While highlighting the need for urgent intervention from security agencies across board to re-strategise and respond promptly to intelligence reports, the council boss called for the deployment of security personnel and infrastructure to vulnerable communities and improved surveillance, patrols, and community collaboration to detect and deter criminal elements.

Ojo also called for swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this heinous crime to serve as a deterrent to others.

He also advocated synergy between the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government, and local authorities to strengthen security architecture in the region.

“The safety and well-being of our constituents are non-negotiable. We must not fold our arms while law-abiding citizens continue to live in fear and fall prey to kidnappers. Every life lost is a blow to the peace, growth, and stability of our communities,” he said.

Ojo expressed the full commitment of the local government to working with all security stakeholders to ensure that justice is served and that such acts of terror were never allowed to thrive again in the land.

He harped in the need for the people to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security post, and stand united while working together to overcome this threat.