FORMER NIGERIA MIDFIELDER Christian Obodo, who spent over a decade in Serie A, including spells with Fiorentina and Udinese, has said that he had escaped from suspected kidnappers in the country’s oil-rich Delta state.
Obodo was driving around the southern city of Warri on Sunday when he said two armed men forced themselves inside his car.
“They pushed my girlfriend out of the car,” he told AFP by phone, adding that a third gunman drove in a car behind them.
“I was praying and trying to hold a conversation with them asking them what have I done, but they barked at me and told me to keep quiet and that if I make any sound I was going to be killed.”
The 36-year-old who was a regular in the Nigeria team between 2003 and 2008, described how they drove around town for several hours until the two men asked him to stop the car and stepped out to go and speak with their accomplice in the car behind.
“I looked behind and sensing a little ease, I sped off,” he said.
Police spokesperson Onome Onowakpoyeya confirmed that Obodo was briefly abducted and released.
“I wasn’t harmed in any way and nothing was taken from me,” said Obodo.
Kidnappings for ransom by criminal gangs are common in Africa’s most populous country, in particular in the oil-producing Delta region.
Obodo was abducted in the same area in 2012, and rescued a day later in a police raid. His kidnappers had demanded a ransom of about $188,000 [€149,000 euros].
Obodo was 17 when he moved to Italy in 2001 to play for Perugia. He later appeared for Fiorentina, Udinese, Torino and Lecce before moving to Dynamo Minsk in 2014.
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6th talking point: The Refs inability to show a red card on a big occasion even if you pull off a helmet or tackle around the neck as a last defender
In hurling it doesn’t matter if it is the first or last man the penalty is the same.
The worst performance from a referee in years. Why is a Wexford person allowed to referee a Kilkenny all Ireland final. Leinster person and county neighbour.
Are u saying that he favoured Kilkenny? Done his best in the first half for Galway but made up for it with a few calls in the second half. You obviously haven’t a clue when it was him who disallowed Matty Ruths point in Thurles a few years ago with the last puck of the game against Waterford. Take off the blinkers.
The absolute best of all time. The fight the pride the willingness to grind it out having been dominated in the first half says it all. On and off the field a phenomenon. Congrats, An envious (but realistic) Cork man
Was at the game today and the Kilkenny halfback line in that 2nd half was unbelievable
best refereeing performance of the year very good on over carrying.
He didn’t give push in the back for goal either!