Abducted chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 5, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, has reportedly died in the hands of his abductors.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped by some gunmen at his residence along Ifon-Owo road , in Ifon, the headquarters of the local government, on Monday at the entrance of his farm .
The bandits were said to have contacted the family, demanding a sum of N100 million ransom for his release, which was later reduced to 30 million. But the family was only able to raise N5 million.
The matter took another twist when the bandits, who were not pleased with the amount offered, detained the two men who took the money to them along with the APC chairman.
However the hoodlums reportedly on Friday shot the APC chieftain dead and freed the two other victims.
The chairman of Ose Local Government Mr Clement Ojo confirmed the death of the party chieftain in a statement sighted by Punch on Sunday. He described it as sad and painful.
“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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and political associates of the deceased,” Ojo said.
The council chairman also described the deceased as a man who dedicated himself to the progress of the party, adding that the grassroots community will be forever remember him.
He decried the state of insecurity in the local government.
“We are now at a critical juncture where security challenges have become a serious threat to the safety and freedom of our people.
“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 said.
