By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Tragedy occurred in Orji Amokwe, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, on Friday, 2 June 2, 2023 as Augustine Somuadina Ali, 30, was kidnapped and killed by unknown gunmen, in Orji Amokwe, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, three days after receiving a visa to the UK for his Masters degree programme.
Somuadina, also known as Italian Millano, was abducted on his way to his hometown, Umuochi Ugwu. The kidnappers did not demand a ransom payment.
His body was discovered hours later along a road.
On Friday, 23 June, 2023, the ESUT graduate was laid to rest in his hometown.
The deceased friend, Rotr Comr Amobichukwu Edeani, who disclosed the sad development in his post on social media, said Ali had been admitted to Teesside University in Middlesbrough to study Food Science and Biotechnology and had paid the school fees.
“Austin, we met in 2014 at Enugu State University of Science and Technology. We studied a 5-year course, and we have been good and close friends since then,” he wrote.
“The news of your death is still like a shock to me. You have been a supportive friend and someone who truly liked education. On December 21, 2022, was the last day I saw you because I got my visa to further my MSc programme in the UK. You told me never to forget what your mother told me about helping you come over to the UK for your MSc. We hugged, and I took off.
“I started your admission process immediately after I arrived in the UK, and it was granted. Then you paid £5,000 in tuition fees before we commenced your visa application, which was also granted. I’m shocked that your visa came out on Tuesday, and you got kidnapped and killed after 3days you received your visa without a demand for ransom. I’m seriously in pain, and my prayer is that it won’t be well with your killer.
“Rest in peace, my good friend. Rip Milano. Rip Italian G. Rip Ali. Rip Somuadina. Till we meet to part no more. Goodbye, Milano,” Edeani said in his post.
