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LOBI STARS PLAYER, AKELECHE, RECOUNTS EXPERIENCE IN KIDNAPPERS’ DEN

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Lobi Stars player, Sunday Akeleche who was recently released by his kidnappers said he went through ‘hell’ with his wife while in the den of their abductors.

 

It will be recalled that the star player and his wife were kidnapped last Sunday, in Abia State on his way to Port-Harcourt where he was going to drop his wife.

 

Although the kidnappers initially demanded for a whopping N50million for the player and his wife to be released, it was later reduced to N10m.

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In a telephone interview with Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, the former ABS FC star boy said with the support of his club chairman and his elder brother, an undisclosed sum of money was paid for him to be released last Friday.

 

He, however, said he and his wife are traumatized by the horrifying experience in the hands of the kidnappers.

 

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Akeleche said throughout their stay in the kidnappers’ hideout, they were not fed just as their valuables taken from them.

 

“It was a terrible experience. My wife and I went through hellish experience. We were not fed and they took everything we had on us, including our cloths.

 

“My club chairman and my elder brother raised money for us to be released. When they said I should go and bring the money, I said my wife should go instead.

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“They insisted I should go but I said my wife should go for the money. So when she brought it on Wednesday, they released her first, on the same day.

 

“They then released me on Friday, October 12. I was blindfolded and taken on a motorbike and dropped somewhere in the bush. I was left to go in my pant and T-shirt,” he said.

 

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Akeleche who thanked God for saving his life and that of his wife said he has resumed with his club in Ijebu-Ode but he is still on medication.

 

He also thanked members of his family, his team mates and other Nigerians who he said prayed ceaselessly for him and his wife to regain their freedom.

 

The player in addition expressed hope that God will heal the psychological injuries inflicted on him by his abductors.

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“Although I am yet to regain myself fully, I have joined my club’s pre-season camp in Ijebu-Ode.

 

“As a matter of fact, I am on medication because I am still traumatized,” he said

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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