A popular juju musician called Bayo Ade who was kidnapped yesterday in Benin was found dead today by family members and policemen who went to give the kidnappers the N5 million after they had earlier collected N500,000 as ransom.

According to source ,the musician was kidnapped shortly after he performed for the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, during his 77th birthday anniversary at GRA Benin.

The 55-year old Ade, whose career spanned over three decades was trailed to his house at 76, Lagos Street, off Lagos Road, off Mission Road in Benin after he had finished his performance at the Igbinedion house in the afternoon .He was abducted while dropping off the van that conveyed him from the show.

They whisked him away at gun-point to an unknown destination. From their hideout, the abductors called the family of the musician and demanded for a ransom of N20 million which was eventually reduced to N5 million.

His family pleaded with his abductors to exercise patience till today when the banks would have opened and they would be able to give them the N5 million ransom.Early this morning the family members went to withdraw the N5 million from a bank, packed the money in a sack and with the police went to the kidnappers' hideout.

But before getting to the point where the money was to be delivered to the kidnappers this morning, he was found dead at Ewa Junction off Ikpoba Hill in Benin City.A call to the Edo Police Command spokesman to comment on the incident could not get through as his phone was switched off.

Efforts to talk to the wife of the deceased also failed as she continued to cry with other family members at his residence.A neighbour who declined to be mentione, said that before Ade's death, the muscian was not in good health but managed to perform at the Igbinedion party.