A retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped from his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State a few weeks ago, has died in the kidnappers’ den despite a ransom payment of ₦10 million for his release.
Major Ajayi was abducted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, around 11:30 p.m. by gunmen who stormed his residence and shot sporadically during the attack.
Sources revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦50 million. However, the delay in meeting their demand due to the family’s inability to raise the amount led to a rapid deterioration in Ajayi’s health, as he was denied access to his medication.
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 retired army officer’s remains has been deposited at Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Kidnapping has surged in the state for a while now, with the abduction of a first-class monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area, who was in the same way abducted from his home in early May. He is yet to be released either.
However, the governor of the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, speaking at the Eid ground last Sallah in Okene, appealed to residents to remain calm, as efforts to rid the criminal elements out of the state are already yielding positive interest.
Retired Joe Ajayi, 76, was once the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kabba/Bunu Chapter.
