The All Progressives Congress (APC) shut down its Abuja headquarters after the tragic death of its national director of administration, Dr. Rauf Adekunle Adeniji. Adeniji was abducted in January and later killed despite ransom payments. His death highlights growing security challenges in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, has closed its national headquarters in Abuja in mourning after the death of Dr. Rauf Adekunle Adeniji, its national director of administration, who was killed by kidnappers while in captivity.
Dr. Adeniji, appointed to the post in August 2024 following the resignation of Prof. Alaba Adediwura, was abducted earlier this year under harrowing circumstances. Armed assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles, attacked the Chikakore community in Kubwa, part of the Bwari Area Council within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and seized Adeniji alongside three family members — his brother, his brother’s wife, and their son — during a late January visit.
The attack left the community reeling after the body of Madam Esther, Adeniji’s brother’s wife, was found near the Ijah-Gbagyi area of Niger State just hours after the kidnapping.
According to sources close to the family, Adeniji’s abductors had demanded a ransom of ₦350 million (approximately $230,000) for his release. While reports suggest that the payment was made, Adeniji was nonetheless killed in captivity. Family members, speaking under anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, confirmed that he had been dead for weeks before the news became public.
“The headquarters closure is both a symbol of respect for Dr. Adeniji’s service and a protest against the insecurity that has plagued the country,” said a senior APC official who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The Chikakore community, located about 30 kilometers from central Abuja, has increasingly become a hotspot for violent crime, underscoring the broader challenges facing security forces in and around the capital.
The APC has not announced when its national secretariat will reopen, saying that further decisions will be made following consultations with the Adeniji family.
