Kidnapped professor dies after release by abductors

OWERRI— A don, Professor Sunny Odoemene, who was kidnapped on August 11, 2012, in his Chokoneze Mbaise country home and released nine days after, is dead. Odoemene, who until his death, was a Professor of Botany at the University of Uyo, also doubled as the president general of the community.
Vanguard gathered that before his eventual death, Odoemene’s health nose-dived after his release from captivity, lending credence to the theory that he was poisoned by his captors.
Speaking to newsmen, the aggrieved 89-year old father of the deceased, Nze Sylvanus Iwuoha Odoemene, disclosed that some of his kinsmen had threatened him before his son was abducted.
Nze Odemene recalled with grief that the villagers allegedly vowed to carry out their threat if Professor Odemene went ahead to present Nze Maurice Nwachukwu, as winner of the election conducted to fill the vacant royal father’s seat, to Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government
The octogenarian equally said that not long after the presentation of Nwachukwu to the local council, his son was kidnapped.
Answering another question, the old man said his son looked frail and famished when he was released by his captors, adding that thereafter, he was continuously moved from one hospital to the other till he eventually died.
The family passionately appealed to the police to investigate the matter with a view to ascertaining what led to his death.
Culled: Vanguard