The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward 5 Chairman in Ose Local Government Area in Ondo State, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, has been reportedly killed by kidnappers in despite his family paying a ransom for his release.
Thefrontrank gathered that Adepoyigi was abducted on Monday, May 12, 2025 by gunmen in front of his residence while parking his vehicle.
Confirming the gruesome killing of the APC chieftain, the Chairman of the local government, Clement Kolapo Ojo, described the incident as “heartbreaking news”.
The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million from the family and after several negotiations, they agreed to reduce it to N5 million.
In a desperate effort to secure Adepoyigi’s release, two individuals who volunteered to deliver the ransom were also abducted by the same gang with the kidnappers making a fresh demand of N30 million.
A statement by Ojo read in parts: “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.
“His dedication to the progress of our party and the grassroots community will be forever remembered and honored.
“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”.
The council boss highlighted the need for urgent intervention from security agencies across board to re-strategize and respond promptly to intelligence reports.
He called for the deployment of security personnel and infrastructure to vulnerable communities and improved surveillance, patrols, and community collaboration to detect and deter criminal elements.
Ojo also called for swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this heinous crime to serve as a deterrent to others as well as collaborative synergy between the Federal Government, Ondo State Government, and local authorities to strengthen security architecture in the region.
“The safety and well-being of our constituents are non-negotiable. We must not fold our arms while law-abiding citizens continue to live in fear and fall prey to kidnappers. Every life lost is a blow to the peace, growth, and stability of our communities.
“The Ose Local Government is fully committed to working with all security stakeholders to ensure justice is served and that such acts of terror are never allowed to thrive again in our land.
“We urge our people to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security post, and stand united as we work together to overcome this threat,” he stated.
