Super Eagles midfielder, Christian Obodo, kidnapped in Warri

Super Eagles midfielder, Christian Obodo, was kidnapped on Saturday in front of a church in Effurun, Warri, Delta State by four gunmen.

The midfielder was driving in the car with a customised plate number ‘Obodo 5′ around 9.20a.m on Jakpa Road when the kidnappers blocked his car and seized him.

They had been tailing the footballer who was said to have gone clubbing in Warri on Friday night.
The gunmen left his car in front of the church at New Layout, Effurun and took him away in their own car.
A top official of the Delta State government, who did not want his name mentioned, confirmed the development to SuperSport.com.

The 28-year-old played on loan last season at Lecce.

“Yes he has been kidnapped. The details are still sketchy but I was told he was on his way to church this (Saturday) morning with his car that has registration number ‘Obodo 5.’

“Apparently his car’s registration may have attracted his kidnappers because he went clubbing last (Friday) night in the same car,” the official said.

The official also said the kidnappers were yet to get in touch with any of the player’s relatives or friends as at noon on Saturday.

Obodo’s kidnap is the first high-profile abduction of a footballer.

Last year, two soldiers and some civilians were indicted in the kidnap of the father of Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, in Jos.

The kidnapped Nigeria and Udinese midfielder, Christian Obodo has been released by his abductors Sunday evening.

Obodo was released by the abductors who had initially requested a N30 Million ransom after frantic efforts by the Delta state Police Command.

Christian Obodo was rescued by a combined team of policemen and soldiers, ransom was paid and some of the kidnappers were nabbed.

The Delta state commisioner of police in a telephone chat said that the Nigerian football star was rescued in the Isoko North LGA of Delta state in a smooth operation.

The police yesterday took credit for the rescue of kidnapped footballer Christian Obodo, telling newsmen that they stormed the kidnappers den, rescued Obodo and arrested most of the kidnappers. But the people who live in the community where the footballer was rescued are now saying that the police had no hand in saving the footballer. According to their story, Christian Obodo escaped from the hands of the kidnappers when he was taken to a restaurant to eat last night. The footballer started screaming for help, saying that he had been kidnapped. The people in the community swiftly came to his recuse before the kidnappers could coma after him again.

They claim that they were the ones who invited the police, who then took Obodo away. According to the people of Isoko community, no one was arrested