Body of Kidnapped Jonathan’s Former Aide’s Brother Found in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A brother to the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Aide, Mr. Onijala Adegboyega, who was kidnapped by five kidnappers last Saturday in Olla town in Isin Local Government Council Area of Kwara State, has been found dead in the forest.

Late Mr. Adegboyega is said to be managing a farm around Olla town and was ambushed by suspected kidnappers on his way home from the farm around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Since then, the state police command had dispatched men of its tactical team and vigilante group in the town in search of the deceased.

The abductors had also demanded a ransom of N200 million from the family but the family begged for the payment of N50million.

However, THISDAY, investigations revealed that the body of the deceased was found by local hunters in the forest during a forest combing operation embarked upon by the local hunters and vigilante.

A family member, who sought anonymity, told THISDAY in Ilorin that the matchete injury sustained during the process of his kidnap must have made him lose too much blood while in forest with his abductors.

It was also gathered that the kidnappers were said to have received part payment of a ransom paid by the family before he was found dead.

Sources close to the family told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that they were disturbed over the killing of the deceased despite the payment of ransom to the abductors.

Reports from the town said that the whole town of Olla has been thrown into mourning situation over the reported killing of their son, Late Onijala.

Confirming the incident, the state police command said that “it has confirmed the recovery of the dead body of one Onijala Adegboyega, ‘m,’ aged 56, who was kidnapped on the 19/11/2021 at Olla town in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.”

A statement that was issued in Ilorin yesterday and signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said: “The command wishes to express her condolences to the people of Olla in particular and Kwara State in general and to state that every available human and material resources to the command was deployed in the effort to get the deceased rescued alive, but unfortunately, the reverse was the case.

“The deceased died as a result of the severe injuries to his left hand inflicted on him by the kidnappers in the struggle to subdue him when information received from the team of vigilante and local hunters coopted into the search for the victim to the effect that his dead body has been found deep inside the bush, and has been handed over to the family by the police, because of the decomposing condition of the body.

“Effort is still ongoing to arrest the culprits as we believe some of the criminals must have suffered some gunshot injuries in the course of exchange of gunfire with our men.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP. Tuesday Assayomo, once again commensurate with the family of the deceased and further assures the people of Kwara State that the command will not relent in her effort to see that criminality of any nature and shape are brought down to a minimal level before, during and after the yuletide period in the state.”