Terrorists release corpse of ex-Major who died of poor health in captivity
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Terrorists after collecting N10 million have released the body of Joe Ajayi, a retired Major kidnapped from his residence in Odo-Ape in Kabba-Bunu Council of Kogi about two weeks ago.
The criminals, who fired gunshots in the air to scare residents at about 11pm on May 21, abducted Ajayi and initially demanded N50 million ransom for his release.
His kidnappers lingered for long when the family could not pay and Ajayi’s health deteriorated as he had no access to his medication.
It was learnt that the kidnappers informed the family that their plea for his medication to be forwarded to him would come at an extra cost, which the family could not meet, per reporting by LEADERSHIP newspaper.
When the abductors discovered that Ajayi could not survive his ordeal they reduced the ransom to ₦10 million.
A source in the community said the Ajayi family, believing he was still alive, quickly agreed to pay the N10 million.
“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 lamented.
Ajayi’s body has been deposited at the mortuary of Kabba Specialist Hospital.
A traditional ruler, James Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in Yagba West Council of Kogi, was also abducted from his home in May and has not been released.
Governor Usman Ododo, speaking at the Eid ground during the Sallah in Okene, appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring that efforts to rid Kogi of criminal elements are yielding positive results.
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