Retired Army officer, Major Joe Ajayi, who was abducted from his home in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, has been found dead despite the payment of a ₦10 million ransom by his family.
His body was discovered in the bush where the kidnappers had told the family to look after the money had been delivered.
Ajayi, aged 76, was taken by gunmen on the night of Wednesday, May 21, 2025, around 11:30 p.m. The attackers were said to have fired multiple gunshots before whisking him away.
Family sources noted that he was in poor health at the time of the abduction and needed daily medication.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦50 million. However, the family struggled to raise such a large amount. As time passed without a deal being reached, Ajayi’s health reportedly declined while in captivity.
The family pleaded with the abductors to allow medication to be sent to him, but they were told that doing so would incur extra costs—costs they could not afford.
After some days, and possibly realizing the major was unlikely to survive, the kidnappers reduced their demand to ₦10 million. Believing he was still alive, the family quickly gathered the money and followed the kidnappers’ instructions for the payment.
“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,” a local source stated.
His body has since been taken to Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Ajayi was known in the community as a respected elder and had previously served as Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kabba/Bunu Chapter.
