N10 Million Ransom Paid, Yet Retired Army Major Dies in Captivity

Joe Ajayi, a retired Army Major who was kidnapped a few weeks ago from his home in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State, has reportedly died in captivity.
Ajayi’s family discovered his lifeless body after paying a ₦10 million ransom for his release.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at around 11:30 p.m., armed assailants abducted Major Ajayi from his home and fired indiscriminately.

According to reports, the kidnappers’ original ransom demand of ₦50 million remained unmet for a long time, causing a decline in his health due to a lack of treatment.

It was also alleged that the kidnappers informed the family that their request for his medication to be sent to him would involve an extra fee, which the family could not pay.

The abductors reduced the demand to ₦10 million naira after learning about Ajayi’s serious condition.

According to a community source, the Ajayi family agreed to pay the reduced price of ten million naira for his release since they believed he was still alive.

“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,” Vanguard quoted a community source as saying.

The retired army officer’s remains have been placed in the morgue at Kabba Specialist Hospital.

Kidnapping has been believed to be on the rise in the state for some time, as evidenced by the abduction of a notable monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in the Yagba West Local Government Area, who was similarly abducted from his home in early May.

Read Also:Allegations Surface Against Tinubu Govt Over Sunday Igboho’s Frozen Accounts

He is yet to be released.

Nonetheless, the state governor, Usman Ododo, addressed the public at the Eid grounds during the recent Sallah in Okene, imploring citizens to remain calm, citing good outcomes from measures to eliminate criminal groups from the state.

Retired Joe Ajayi, 76, previously served as Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kabba/Bunu Chapter.