KEY POINTS

• Nelson Adepoyigi, APC chairman in Ondo’s Ose LGA, was killed by kidnappers after ransom talks broke down.

• Initial ₦100 million ransom was reduced to ₦5 million, then raised again to ₦30 million before his murder.

• Security agencies are now searching for his body and the perpetrators, amid rising political kidnappings in Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is reeling from the tragic loss of one of its local leaders, Nelson Adepoyigi, who was brutally murdered by his kidnappers after a tense and drawn-out ransom negotiation process.

Adepoyigi, who chaired the APC in the Ose Local Government Area, was abducted at the entrance of his residence on the evening of Monday, May 12.

AAN TV reported that his captors initially demanded a ransom of ₦100 million for his release. However, following negotiations, the amount was reduced to ₦5 million—an agreement that ultimately failed to secure his freedom.

Fresh demands and betrayal follow failed negotiation

In a chilling turn of events, the bandits not only rejected the reduced payment but also detained the two individuals who had been sent to deliver the ransom. They later escalated their demands, insisting on a new payment of ₦30 million.

Despite the ransom bearers eventually being released unharmed, the kidnappers killed Adepoyigi.

“This is a dark day for our community and a devastating blow to those who knew and worked with Mr. Adepoyigi,” said a spokesperson from the local government. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family and the APC family.”

Authorities have since launched a comprehensive manhunt for the perpetrators. A coordinated effort involving the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups is currently underway to recover Adepoyigi’s body and bring his killers to justice.

Local residents and political leaders alike have expressed anger and dismay at the growing trend of politically connected figures being targeted in Nigeria’s widening wave of abductions. In the last year alone, several political leaders and their family members have fallen victim to kidnappings in the South-West region, heightening fears and fueling demands for a more aggressive security response.

“The impunity with which these criminals operate is terrifying,” said Chief Wale Adetiba, a political analyst in Akure. “The government needs to treat these kidnappings not just as crimes, but as acts of terror aimed at destabilizing governance and civic trust.”

The late Adepoyigi had been a longstanding figure in local Ondo politics and was known for his grassroots engagement. His death is expected to trigger security and political recalibrations within the APC, especially ahead of future elections.

As news of his murder spread, tributes poured in from across party lines. Civil society organizations have renewed calls for state police and community-based security architecture to combat the rising scourge of kidnapping.

The Ondo State government has yet to issue a formal statement beyond initial condolences, though sources say an emergency security briefing is being planned.

This incident adds to a string of high-profile kidnappings and killings that have cast a long shadow over Nigeria’s political environment and law enforcement capacity. Analysts warn that without a decisive shift in policy and proactive policing, the criminal economy of kidnapping will continue to thrive.