Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A retired Army Major, Joseph Ajayi, has died in kidnapers den despite payment of N10 million ransom by his family.
The incident has thrown the inhabitants of Odo-Ape Community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State into mourning.
Truth Live News Media reports that Major Ajayi, a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kabba-Bunu Chapter, was kidnapped from his residence on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, around 11:30 pm by gunmen who fired sporadically.
It was learnt that the kidnappers’ initial demand of N50 million lingered for weeks as the family struggled to raise the funds, leading to a deterioration in Ajayi’s health due to a lack of access to his medication.
The kidnappers reportedly informed the family that delivering his medication would incur an additional cost, which the family could not afford.
However, when the abductors realised Ajayi’s condition was critical, they reduced the ransom to N10 million.
A community source said the Ajayi family, believing he was still alive, quickly paid the N10 million for his release.
“Once the ransom was paid, the kidnappers directed the family to where they would find him, only for them to meet his lifeless body,” the source revealed.
The retired Army officer’s remains have been deposited at the Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Speaking at the Eid ground during Sallah in Okene, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring them that efforts to eliminate criminal elements in the state are yielding positive results.