A 76-year-old retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, has died while in the custody of his kidnappers, despite his family paying a huge amount of money for his release.
It was gathered that Major Ajayi was abducted from his residence in Odo-Ape, within the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, on May 21, 2025.
Armed assailants reportedly stormed his home, firing indiscriminately before whisking him away. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million.
Major Ajayi’s health reportedly deteriorated rapidly due to the denial of his essential medications. The kidnappers insisted on an additional payment for his medication, a demand the family was unable to meet.
As his condition worsened, the captors eventually lowered their demand to N10 million, giving the family renewed hope that his life could still be saved.
After the ransom was paid and the family was directed to a location where they were told he would be released, they instead found his lifeless body on the floor. His remains have since been taken to the mortuary at Kabba Specialist Hospital.
Major Ajayi was not only known for his military service but also for his leadership as Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kabba-Bunu Chapter.
It was reported that a first-class traditional ruler, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, was also recently kidnapped in the state.
