The town of Ifon in Ondo State is gripped by tension following a fresh twist in the abduction of Nelson Adepoyigi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward 5 Chairman in Ose Local Government.
The abductors of the Ward 5 Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nelson Adepoyigi, have seized two persons who had volunteered to deliver the N5 million ransom to release the party chieftain.
The gunmen had initially demanded N100 million but later agreed to N5 million and some food items after negotiation. It seemed like progress until the two volunteers, Bayode Loco and Isimeri, were also taken.
Following the development the kidnappers are now demanding N30 million to release Adepoyigi and the two bearers of the ransom, Bayode Loco and Isimeri.
Adepoyigi was kidnapped around 10p.m. on Monday outside his home in Ifon. The attackers reportedly beat him before dragging him away.
The APC ward chairman was abducted around 10 p.m. on Monday outside his residence in Ifon, where the gunmen assaulted him before forcibly taking him away.
The community is now in a state of confusion. Family members and political associates are shaken by this new demand.
With the development plunging the victim’s family and political circles into another rounds of turmoil and panic, sources within the community disclosed everyone is now confused over the situation.
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Hope had risen when the ransom was reduced, and plans were made to secure his release.
After initially demanding N100 million, the kidnappers had lowered the ransom to N5 million and food items after negotiations.
However, upon receiving the N5 million, they reneged, demanding N30 million for the trio’s safe return with the development intensifying fears among Adepoyigi’s family and political allies, who had hoped for the return of the APC chieftain.
A community source explained: “One of the sources, who craved anonymity stated that those who took the ransom to them, as agreed during negotiations, were held by the same kidnappers. They have now turned around to demand a fresh N30 million before they can release all three of them.”
Ose Local Council Chairman, Kolapo Oja, confirmed the incident and the earlier negotiation that brought the ransom down to N5 million and food items.
While confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ose Local Council Area of the state, Kolapo Oja, revealed that during an earlier negotiation with the kidnappers, the N100 million ransom had been reduced to N5 million as well as food items.
He called for calm and assured that security operatives are working to free the captives.