Anger As Kidnapped South Africa-based Nigerian Found Dead Despite Ransom

Jonathan Eloho Okinedo, a 42-year old Nigerian based in South Africa who was kidnapped last Saturday has been found dead.

Okinedo who worked as a DSTV technician was found with apparent gunshot wounds to the head, despite his family paying the demanded ransom twice.

According to reports, “Okinedo left for the Senzokwethu Secondary School in H Section Ntunzuma on Saturday to meet a client wanting to fit a decoder. The client had called at 06:45 the same morning requesting a technician.

“His family received a call from his cellphone later the same day and Okinedo informed them that he was held against his will and the kidnappers were demanding R2000 (N52,000) for his release.

“The family negotiated the amount to R500 (N13,000) and the money was transferred via e-wallet to a provided mobile number. The victim was allowed to speak to his family for a few minutes before the call was abruptly disconnected. Both phones were then switched off and the victim was not released. On Sunday morning, the kidnappers called the family from a new number demanding R5000 (N130,000) for the release of the victim.

“The family explained that they could not transfer that amount via e-wallet and the amount of R1500 (N39,000) was agreed upon. When the transfer was done, the kidnappers switched off the phone, and Okinedo was still not released. Okinedo moved from Nigeria’s Delta State to South Africa and resided temporarily in Amouti – Kwazulu Natal in 2015. Investigation into the m*rder and kidnapping is ongoing according to the police.

Reacting to the tragic news, Nigerians took to social media to condemn the barbaric action in unison. Some wondered why Okinedo was killed despite paying ransom twice. Some others questioned why Nigerians still live in South Africa, in regards to the wave of xenophobic attacks in the country.

Here are some reactions gathered by GwG

@obidyke_ Someone hustling for his daily bread legitimately just cut down in his prime over a meagre 53k or 130k?
After kidnapping a man for such small amount of money, u still decided to kill him; sad

@faitthysia You kill a human for this amount? What’s this?

@thecanemakers Someone working hard for his daily bread….???

@lovewoluofficial The devil lives amongst us, He’s not in hell but on this same earth with us. ??? so much Evil.

@odogwutitan Na wa o.。 the world is a dark place

@cyndee_xo Some people are mean, the money was given yet you took his life. Anyway what goes around…. comes around.

@ceemplybecca Some human beings are so wicked!! You collected money then still went ahead to take his life! Rip?

@lmfao_uby Killed a man for less than $100? Are you kidding me?

@melvinkahinde How many times must the South African tell you that they don’t like Nigerian.. Shey na the only country to go and hustle

@bunmola777 South African criminals did this 100% a Nigerian will not go through those efforts to demand for such low amounts.I pray they are caught soon.

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