Onazi Attacked by Robbers, Loses Car to Hoodlums

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Pa Wilson Obande Onazi, father of Super Eagles player, Ogenyi Onazi, narrowly escaped death on Monday when armed men raided his house, carting away his Sport Utility Van (SUV) and other valuables.

THISDAY gathered that four armed men, all masked had, at about 1.30 pm on Monday invaded the home of the Onazi’s located at Utan area of Jos North local government Area of Plateau state holding him and some members of his family hostage.

Though no member of his family was hurt, the robbers reportedly succeeded in getting away with the Toyota Highlander SUV and other valuables.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Terna Tyopev, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Jos yesterday, said that immediately the incident was reported, policemen were posted to the house to reassure them of safety.

Tyopev said, “The divisional crime officer personally led detectives to the house”, adding that the area is now calm and investigations have commenced on the crime.

In a related develpoment, Africanfootball.com spoke with Onazi from his base in Turkey and reported that the was obviously shaken by the incident. He said that the bandits pretended to be courier men with a letter to be delivered to his father.

“Those robbers came, pretending they were there to deliver a letter to my dad at about 1.40pm on Monday(yesterday), as soon as he collected their fake letter and asked where it was coming from they swooped on him, tied his hands, beat him up, inflicting machete cuts on him in the process,” he recounted.

“They told him this is the first in a series of attacks that they will launch on our house and that I( Onazi) will be their target the next time.”

“They took their time to take some valuable materials including car and some cash but I am thankful to God they didn’t do more than that,” Onazi added.

Onazi’s dad has also been discharged from hospital where he was treated for the injuries inflicted on him during the ordeal.