We didn't know about scrabble player’s killing – Ondo police

Paul Sodje was killed at the beginning of the month

The Ondo State Police Command has stated that it is unaware of the death of former captain of the scrabble national team, Paul Sodje.

Sodje was allegedly killed by suspected herdsmen after he took a ransom of N1m to kidnappers, who had abducted his brother, Chris.

Chairman, Nigeria Scrabble Federation’s Publicity Committee, Akintunde Akinsemola, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that Sodje’s corpse and that of another unidentified man was found inside the bush in Ido Ani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, September 1.

The Punch gathered that the remains of the deceased were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, with the assistance of policemen from Ido Ani division, who were reportedly informed by members of a vigilante group in the area.

However, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the incident was not reported at the police division.

He said, “ I don’t think anything like that happened in Ido Ani. I have called the Divisional Police Officer, he said the matter was not reported in Ido Ani.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Sodje’s brother, Chris, was still in the custody of the kidnappers.

Chris’ wife, Mrs. Flora Sodje, in an interview with journalists, confirmed that the family had not heard from the abductors after paying the N1m ransom they demanded.

She said, “We are putting our hope in God for my husband’s release. They have stopped speaking with us over a week ago. We paid them N1m ransom which they demanded for.”