By Peter Dansu Tragedy has struck the political community in Ondo State following the reported killing of Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi, Ward 5 Cha...
By Peter Dansu
Tragedy has struck the political community in Ondo State following the reported killing of Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi, Ward 5 Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ose Local Government Area, by his abductors — despite a ₦5 million ransom payment and food supplies delivered in exchange for his release.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped days ago from his home in Ifon. Initially, his captors demanded a staggering ₦100 million for his freedom, but later slashed the amount to ₦5 million and requested food items as well.
According to community sources, two individuals who delivered the ransom and supplies were also taken hostage by the kidnappers. After receiving the items, the abductors issued a fresh demand — an additional ₦30 million — for the release of all three captives.
While the ransom couriers were eventually freed and returned to the community, they brought back grim news: the kidnappers claimed they had killed Mr. Adepoyigi.
As of the time of this report, his body has not been found. Local efforts to locate his remains in the surrounding forest are ongoing.
Reacting to the heartbreaking development, the Chairman of Ose Local Government, Hon. Clement Kolapo Ojo, described the news as devastating.
“While we are thankful that the two volunteers made it back safely, the loss of Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi is deeply painful,” he said. “This is a tragic blow not just to his family and friends, but to our party and the entire community.”
Ojo praised Adepoyigi’s contributions to grassroots politics, saying his dedication would not be forgotten.
The council boss also raised alarm over the worsening security situation in the area, citing a recent incident in which a resident narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt while parking his motorcycle.
“This frightening trend of abductions, right in front of people’s homes, shows that the security crisis has reached an intolerable level,” Ojo lamented.
He called for an immediate and robust response from security agencies, urging a greater presence of personnel and better infrastructure across vulnerable communities. He also advocated stronger collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to boost surveillance and intelligence gathering.
“The safety of our people is non-negotiable,” he stressed. “We cannot continue to stand by while innocent citizens live in fear and fall victim to these criminals. Every life lost is a blow to the peace and development of our land.”
Ojo vowed that the local government would work closely with security agencies to ensure justice is served and to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr. Olutokunbo Afolabi, said the police had yet to confirm Adepoyigi’s death. He noted that special operatives had been deployed to Ifon to investigate the incident and verify the reports circulating on social media.
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