Abducted retired Army Major dies in captivity despite ₦10m ransom payment
A retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped at his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State a few weeks ago, has died in captivity despite a ransom of ₦10 million paid to secure his release.
Major Ajayi was kidnapped on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from his residence around 11:30pm by gunmen who shot sporadically.
Vanguard gathered that the initial demands of ₦50 million ransom by the abductors lingered for long when the family could not pay; this resulted in his health deteriorating, as he had no means to get his medication.
It was gathered that the kidnappers informed the family that their plea for his medication to be forwarded to him would come at an extra cost, a concession that couldn’t be met by the family.
READ ALSO: Kidnappers demand N20m for abducted army captain, 3 others in Ondo
However, as soon as the abductors discovered that Ajayi couldn’t survive, they reduced the ransom to 10 million naira.
A source in the community said that the Ajayi family, believing he was still alive, quickly agreed to pay the ten million naira for his rescue.
“Once the ransom was paid, the kidnappers directed the family to where they would find him, only for them to meet his (Ajayi’s) lifeless body.”
The retired army officer’s remains have been deposited at Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Kidnapping has surged in the state for a while now, with the abduction of a first-class monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area, who was in the same way abducted from his home in early May. He’s yet to be released either.
However, the governor of the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, speaking at the Eid ground last Sallah in Okene, appealed to residents to remain calm, as efforts to rid the criminal elements are already yielding positive results.
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