Retired Army Major, Former CAN Chairman Dies in Kidnappers Den After Family Paid N10 Million Ransom
By: Olufemi Orunsola
A retired Army Major, who was also a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Joe Ajayi, has reportedly died in captivity a few weeks after he was abducted from his home in Odo-Ape, located in the Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News reports as gathered that the lifeless body of the retired army general was revealed to his family after they had paid a ransom of ₦10 million for his release.
OTN News further reports as gathered that Major Ajayi, who was also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kabba/Bunu Chapter, was abducted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from his residence at approximately 11:30 PM by armed assailants who fired shots indiscriminately.
Reports have it that his kidnappers initially demand a ransom of ₦50 million from the deceased family but the negotiation extended over a prolonged period as the family was unable to meet the required sum.
Over time, the health of the 75-year old general deteriorated and it was also reported that the kidnappers communicated to the family that their request for his medication to be sent to him would incur an additional charge, which again, the family could not afford.
However, the abductors upon realising that Ajayi’s condition was critical, lowered the ransom to ₦10 million naira.
A community source revealed that the Ajayi family, under the impression that he was still alive, promptly consented to pay the reduced amount of ten million naira for his release.
“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 source from the community as stating.
The remains of the retired army officer have been placed in the mortuary of Kabba Specialist Hospital.
Kidnapping has been on the rise in the state for some time, highlighted by the abduction of a prominent monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in the Yagba West Local Government Area, who was similarly taken from his residence in early May.
He has not yet been released.
Retired Major General Joe Ajayi died aged 76. In the meantime, the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has assured that his government was committed to ending the increasing spate of kidnappings in the state.
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