The Kogi police command has confirmed the death of Joe Ajayi, a retired army major, while in the custody of his abductors, days after his family paid a N10 million ransom.
NAN reports that Williams Ovye-Aya, police spokesperson in Kogi, confirmed the incident on Monday in Lokoja, the state’s capital.
Ajayi, 76, was kidnapped on May 21 from his home in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu LGA of the state.
According to reports from the Bunu Leaders’ Forum, NAN said Ajayi’s kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million, which the family was unable to pay.
Olu Obafemi, chairman of the forum, and Ade Abanida, secretary, said Ajayi’s health deteriorated in the kidnappers’ den due to a lack of access to medications.
“The kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N10 million after discovering that his condition was critical,” NAN quoted the Bunu leaders as saying.
“The family, who reportedly thought that he was still alive, quickly agreed and paid the ransom to the kidnappers.
“Thereafter, the kidnappers directed the family to where they could find him, but shockingly they only found his lifeless body.”
Ovye-Aya said Ajayi’s remains had been recovered and deposited at the Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
The police spokesperson said the command would leave no stone unturned in hunting down the perpetrators and subjecting them to face justice.