NIGERIA SCRABBLE FEDERATION CONFIRMS DEATH OF FORMER CAPTAIN, PAUL SODJE IN THE HANDS OF FULANI HERDSMEN
The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) mourns as its former player and captain, Paul Sodje, has died after he was reportedly murdered by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.
This was made known by the Chairman of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Publicity Committee, Akintunde Akinsemola, on September 1st, 2020.
He told The PUNCH that Sodje’s body was found inside the bush in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, on September 1st, 2020.
The Chairman revealed that the former captain had taken ransom money to the kidnappers, who had abducted his brother, Chris, four days earlier.
Paul Sodje’s junior brother was said to be going for his uncle’s funeral in Okwagbe, Delta State, on August 28th, 2020, when the Fulani herdsmen abducted him at Ifon, Ondo State.
Akinsemola revealed that the Fulani herdsmen demanded a N100m ransom but later reduced it to N1m which his wife, Flora, and friends rallied round to raise.
He stated that Chris’ elder brother, Paul (the deceased), and a friend took the ransom to the Fulani herdsmen but both of them were murdered by them.
The NSF Chairman said that the former captain has not been found and the abductors have truncated communication with his family.
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“Idoani elders led by Otunba Oladele Olapeju, who were searching for their kinsmen, who were also kidnapped, saw Paul Sodje’s body and that of the man that accompanied him to the herders rendezvous.
“They took the bodies to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where they still lie,” the NSF Chairman said.
The former captain of the Nigeria Scrabble team, who would have been 55 on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 led Nigeria to the African Scrabble Championship in Zambia, in 2012.
However, the Scrabble Federation held a virtual post-homous birthday for the late Sodje on Wednesday.
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