Residents of Akoko community are in pensive mood following the death of Bashiru Adekile, one of the four victims abducted last month in Ondo State. 

Mr Bashiru, a prominent son of Akoko, was abducted alongside a traditional ruler, the Oniku of Iku, Mukaila Bello, at the Agopanu axis, on the Owo-Ikare road. 

Peoples Gazette learned that the victim died on Thursday, exactly two weeks after he was freed from the kidnappers den. 

A family source, Adebimpe Abiola, told our reporter that Mr Adekile died due to the “injuries” he sustained while in captivity. 

Recall that sometime in August 2022, the suspected kidnappers abducted Messers Adekile and Bello with two other persons.

The two are; a former House of Assembly Candidate for Akoko North-East Constituency Yèyé Gbafinro and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Adeniran Adeyemo. 

The driver transporting the four victims was shot by the kidnappers but was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, in Owo where he was treated. 

The kidnappers had demanded N50 million as ransom from the families of the victims. 

Late Adekile was held for three days in the kidnappers’ den, and released with the others after the community had raised N4 million in ransom.

“Despite all these efforts by the community, it was unfortunate that we lost my uncle (Adekile) yesterday (Thursday) to the cold hands of death.

“The injuries he sustained while in the captivity of the kidnappers in the forest were too much for him to bear. All his body was with signs of torture. We are bereaved,” said Ms Adebimpe.

Recounting how Mr Adekile had been helping the family aside from being a popular community leader, Ms Adebimpe added that Mr Adekile had been hospitalised since he was released from the kidnappers’ den. 

“When he was released, we had to take him down to the hospital. He was complaining about pains all over his body. We couldn’t just manage it. So, the family decided that we just have to move him for treatment,” she said. 

On Friday, Mr Adekile’s remains were laid to rest in his Akoko community amid tears and sorrow from family members and community members. 

Although the police had arrested four suspects who allegedly kidnapped Mr Adekile and the three other victims following a manhunt. 

The suspects are Mohammed Moshere, 25, Llyasu Lawal, 27, Mohammadu Abubakar Siddi, 26, Garba Bature, 36, and Abubakar Dengy, 20. All Ebira indigenes from Kogi State. 

Following their arrest, they were charged and arraigned before the Oke Oda Magistrates’ court on illegal firearm possession, armed robbery and kidnapping.

Police prosecutor in charge of the case, Adeoye Adesegun, informed the court that the defendants shot Adejoro Muda, who was transporting the victims, in the head.

He also told the Magistrate that the four suspects stole a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 worth N143,000 and an Itel phone worth N47,000, together with N36,000 in cash. 

He said their offence is punishable under Sections 6 (A&B) 1,2,3(1)(b), and 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap. 147, Vol. 4, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate Mayomi Olanipekun remanded the suspects at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Olokuta, pending legal counsel from the Department of Public Prosecution and adjourned the case to November 29, 2022.