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Local government

Kidnapping Crisis Deepens in Kogi State as Notorious Kidnappers Claim Prominent Community Leader's Life

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Odo-Ape community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State is mourning the loss of Joseph Ajayi, a retired Army Major and former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kabba-Bunu Chapter. Ajayi was kidnapped from his residence on May 21, 2025, and despite his family paying a ₦10 million ransom, he was found dead. This latest incident has highlighted the rising threat of kidnapping in Kogi State, with several prominent individuals, including a first-class monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, being abducted in recent weeks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Odo-Ape community is in mourning following the death of Joseph Ajayi, a prominent community leader and retired Army Major, who was kidnapped on May 21, 2025.
  • The kidnappers initially demanded a ₦50 million ransom, which lingered for weeks, leading to a deterioration in Ajayi's health due to lack of access to his medication.
  • The kidnappers reduced the ransom to ₦10 million, and the Ajayi family paid it, only to find his lifeless body upon delivery.
  • The kidnapping has been attributed to the surge of criminal elements in Kogi State, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo assuring residents that efforts to eliminate these elements are yielding positive results.
  • A first-class monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, was abducted from his home in early May and remains unreleased, highlighting the ongoing threat of kidnapping in the state.
  • The incident is a grim reminder of the need for the government and security agencies to take decisive action to curb the rising wave of kidnapping in Kogi State.

Statistics:

  • ₦10 million: The ransom paid by the Ajayi family for Ajayi's release.
  • ₦50 million: The initial ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
  • 1: The number of prominent community leaders abducted in recent weeks in Kogi State, including Oba James Dada Ogunyanda and Joseph Ajayi.
  • 2: The number of local government areas where kidnapping incidents have been reported in Kogi State, including Kabba-Bunu and Yagba West.
  • 2025: The year in which the kidnapping of Joseph Ajayi and Oba James Dada Ogunyanda took place.

Sources:

  • [Al Jazeera: "Kogi State struggles with rising kidnappings" (no date or publication date mentioned)]
  • [Nigeria News (SUN)): "Kogi Gov. Ododo appeals for calm amid rising kidnapping cases" (no date or publication date mentioned)]

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