He had braved the perilous sea journey to mainland Europe in search of greener pastures. But just a few months into his stay in Italy, Godwin Idele, a young and popular grassroots footballer from Benin City, met his death in bizarre circumstances, leaving friends and family members shattered.

Though News Express has not been able to get confirmation from Italian police authorities, it was gathered from family sources that the tragic incident occurred in the evening of Sunday, September 15, when Idele was said to have attempted to escape from police in Italy who approached a club where he was said to be partying.

“His relative in Italy called to deliver the sad news. It seems he was trying to escape the police for one reason or the other, and jumped down from a high rise building,” a friend of Idele told News Express.

At Okha community, south of Benin City where Idele lived before he travelled out, and where he was a popular footballer for a grassroots team, Elders FC, it was with a sense of disbelief that they received the news.

“He called on Sunday afternoon and we charted and laughed happily on the phone. A few hours later he was gone,” Theo, a close friend, said.

At the Elders FC training pitch, a minute of silence was observed for Idele by heavy-eyed players.

“He was a friendly guy. He never wanted to get into trouble with anyone,” said one friend. “I wonder why he had to go like this.”

This sad incident highlights the continuing desperation of many Africans to stay in Europe, believing that there they stand a better chance of living a better life.

•Photo shows the late Godwin Idele.