Kidnappers kill Oyo farmer after collecting N2m ransom

Kidnappers have killed a farmer, Wole Agboola, in Oyo State, after collecting a N2m ransom from his family.

Six armed men dressed said to have dressed in military camouflage on Monday, December 28, 2020 abducted Agboola, a University of Ibadan graduate, on his fish farm in the Nagbede village near Aba-Odo, Oyo.

On Monday, January 11, 2021, which was 10 days after the family had paid N2m ransom demanded by his abductors, it Agboola’s decomposing body that was reportedly found in the bush by the police a few miles from where he was abducted.

A brother to the deceased, Olakunle Agboola, a journalist, who confirmed the incident, said his body was found 10 days after the ransom was paid by the family.

He said, “My brother, Wole Agboola, was killed after a huge ransom was paid and we later found his body inside the bush near Aba-Odo on Monday at 6pm just close to where he was abducted.”

Pastor of the church where the deceased worshipped, Reverend Boladale Ige, suspected he might have been killed shortly after he was kidnapped.

Ige’s statement titled, ‘Painful exit of a dear brother’, read in part, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the painful and sudden passing of our brother, Elder Wole Agboola, who, unfortunately, fell to the cruel hands of kidnappers on Monday, 28th December 2020 on his farm.

“Despite all efforts, it appears his abductors had killed him shortly after his kidnap. This, for us, as a church family and for his immediate family, is a very painful and sad occurrence. We must nevertheless encourage one another at this time to hold firmly to God’s infinite words, and look to Him, keeping our gaze on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“The occurrence of the past two weeks is a sad reality of the state of insecurity in our nation, Nigeria. We remain fastidious, praying for the deliverance of our nation and people from the grip of the enemy. And we shall be victorious. As we mourn, we will not mourn as those who do not have hope; we believe in God, and we know our brother has gone to heaven, to be with his Lord Jesus whom he loved dearly and served passionately.”