Joe Ajayi, retired Army Major, kidnapped at his residence in Odo-Ape community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, in the Western Senatorial District of Kogi State, three weeks ago, has died in the custody of his abductors.
The major was said to have died after the sum of N10 million was paid as ransom to the abductors by family, a source confirmed to BusinessDay, Monday.
The late army Major was kidnapped precisely on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from his residence around 11:30pm by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen, when they invaded his residence shooting sporadically.
While, efforts were said to have been made by his family to rise the initial demands of N50 million ransom by the abductors which his family could not pay; he was said to have developed medical complications that resulted in his health deteriorating, as he had no means to get his medication.
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It was gathered that the kidnappers informed the family that their plea for his medication to be forwarded to him will come at an extra cost, a concession that couldn’t be met by the family.
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 disclosed.
His remain, source said has been deposited at Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Kidnapping has been on the increase in Kogi state for a while now, only recently a traditional ruler, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area, was in the abducted from his home in early May., and he is yet to be released either.
