Former Nigeria Scrabble Team Captain ‘Sodje’ Murdered by Kidnappers
Paul Sodje, a one-time captain of the Nigeria Scrabble national team, has been reported dead after he was abducted by suspected herdsmen.
Chairman of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Publicity Committee, Akintunde Akinsemola, spoke to a reporter from The PUNCH about the incident recently. Akinsemola said Sodje’s body was found on September 1.
The remains were located in a forest area situated at Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria.
According to reports, Sodje’s brother had been kidnapped a few days before. He was on his way to meet with the kidnappers and pay them a ransom.
Unfortunately, as often happens, the kidnappers had no intention of returning Sodji’s bother, and instead killed him.
The incident highlights the continued issue of kidnapping in a large number of countries around the world. In many areas this is still used by criminals as a way to make money – often with deadly consequences.
According to a report from theglobaleconomy.com, in 2017 there were an average of 1.8 kidnappings per 100,000 people across the globe. The countries with the highest rates were Belgium and Canada – tied at 10.3 kidnappings per 100,000 people.
to Mr. Akinsemola, “Chris (Paul Sodje’s bother) was going for his uncle’s funeral in Okwagbe, Delta State on August 28, when he was kidnapped at Ifon, Ondo State. The Fulani men demanded N100 million but later reduced it to N1 million.”
“His wife Flora and friends rallied round to raise the ransom. Then his elder brother, Paul, and a friend took the ransom to them, yet the Fulani men murdered the two of them. Chris has not been found and the kidnappers have stopped communicating with the family”.
While searching for some of their own relatives who had been kidnapped, several Idoani elders came across the bodies of Sodji and his friend.
In 2012, Sodje led the national Nigeria Scrabble team to the African Scrabble Championship in Zambia.
To pay tribute and honor the memory of their former leader, scrabble federation held a virtual posthumous birthday for Sodje who would have turned 55 this week.
“We keep mourning, he was to celebrate his 55th birthday today (Wednesday), which would have been a great landmark for him but his life was nipped in the bud”, said NSF President, Sulaiman Gora.
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