By: Manoah Kikekon
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| APC/ Ondo State Governor Orimisan Aiyedatiwa |
Abducted All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Ifon, Ondo State, Nelson Adepoyigi, has been killed by his captors despite ransom payment.
The ward 5 APC leader was kidnapped on Monday night near his residence along the Ifon/Owo road.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded N100 million, but after negotiations, the family paid N5 million. Shockingly, the gunmen detained two ransom negotiators Bayode Loco and Isimeri and later demanded an additional N30 million for their release along with Adepoyigi’s.
Tragically, on Sunday, Ose Local Government Chairman, Clement Kolapo Ojo, confirmed Adepoyigi’s murder. His spokesperson, Oluwaseun Ogunniyi, revealed that the two ransom bearers were freed only to deliver the devastating news of the APC chairman’s execution.
"While we are relieved that the volunteers are safe, we are heartbroken by the brutal killing of Nelson Adepoyigi. Ose Local Government mourns this tragic loss and stands with his family, friends, and political associates," Ojo stated.
The council boss expressed alarm over escalating insecurity in the region, citing a recent near-kidnapping incident days before Adepoyigi’s abduction. He urged the federal government to support Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s efforts in tackling banditry and criminal activities.
Adepoyigi was remembered as a dedicated party leader and grassroots mobilizer whose legacy would endure.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed that tactical teams are combing Ifon forests to verify the killing and apprehend the perpetrators.
"Our operatives are on the ground, intensifying efforts to smoke out the kidnappers," Afolabi told Peoples Gazette.