The Ondo State Police Command has launched an investigation following the tragic killing of Nelson Adepoyigi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman for Ward 5 in Ose Local Government Area, who was abducted in Ifon and murdered by his captors despite a ransom being paid.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped from his residence along Ifon-Owo Road in Ifon on Monday and his family was initially asked to pay a ransom of N100 million.
The amount was later negotiated down to N5 million, accompanied by food supplies.
Tragically, the abductors went on to capture two individuals who delivered the ransom and demanded an additional N30 million for their release.
Despite the ransom payment, the APC chieftain was shot dead by his abductors.
The two volunteers who delivered the ransom were eventually released on Friday evening.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Saturday, the chairman of Ose Local Government, Clement Ojo, described the murder as “heartbreaking” and condemned the growing spate of abductions in the area.
“While we are grateful that the two volunteers have now regained their freedom, it is deeply saddening and utterly painful that the life of Nelson Adepoyigi was brutally cut short by his captors,” he said.
Ojo called the situation a wake-up call to the increasing insecurity facing residents of the local government, citing another recent attempted abduction in the area as evidence of a disturbing trend.
“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, urging urgent reinforcement of security infrastructure in vulnerable communities.
He further called for a coordinated response from the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government and local security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“Our people must not continue to live in fear,” Ojo added.
“Every life lost is a blow to the peace, growth, and stability of our communities.”
While the Ondo State Police Command has not officially confirmed the killing, commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi said a team of detectives has been deployed to Ifon to investigate the matter.
