There is grief in Ifon, Ondo State, following the killing of Mr. Nelson Adepoyigi, Ward 5 Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ose Local Government Area, by his abductors after spending days in captivity.
Adepoyigi was abducted last Monday at the entrance of his farm along the Ifon-Owo road. His captors had initially demanded a N100 million ransom. The family managed to raise N5 million and sent two individuals to deliver the money. Shockingly, the kidnappers detained the two messengers and raised a new demand of N30 million for the release of all three.
However, tragedy struck on Friday when Adepoyigi was reportedly shot dead by the gunmen, who later freed the other two captives.
Chairman of Ose Local Government, Mr. Clement Ojo, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday, describing the killing as “deeply saddening and utterly painful.
“We are grateful the two volunteers are safe, but the murder of Mr. Adepoyigi is a devastating loss. He was a committed party man and a true grassroots leader,” Ojo said.
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He warned that insecurity in the region is reaching alarming levels. “We are now at a critical juncture where security challenges have become a serious threat to the safety and freedom of our people,” he added, referencing a recent failed kidnap attempt on another resident.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Olayinka Ayanlade, were unsuccessful, as his line remained unreachable at the time of filing this report.
