A Taekwondo athlete, Maria Raphael, has been crushed to death by a truck while on her way to purchase some items from a grocery store in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The deceased lost her life on Friday, August 26, shortly after returning from Yenagua where she won a silver medal for team Nasarawa in the just concluded Bayelsa Open Taekwondo, which was held between August 21 and 24, 2022.
Maria also won a bronze medal in the 46kg women’s category at the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship, held recently in Lagos State.
A statement issued by Eche Amos, spokesman of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, described Maria’s death as an unquantifiable loss, saying her immense contributions to sports in the state would be sorely missed.
The statement reads, “Maria was crushed to death (sic) by an articulated vehicle (trailer) along UAC Road here in Lafia, while on her way to purchase some items from a grocery store in the evening of Friday, 26th August, 2022, few hours after returning home from a championship in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where she represented Nasarawa State.”
“At the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship held early this month in Lagos, the late Maria Raphael was one of the athletes who inspired Team Nasarawa to finish 4th position on the medals’ table as she won a bronze medal in the -46kg Women’s Category at the Championship.
“The deceased was a committed, dedicated and focused athlete, winning medals of different categories for Nasarawa State, ranging from cadet, junior and senior category, until her untimely demise.
“Maria brought lots of glory and honour to Nasarawa State. Her demise is an unquantifiable loss to everyone of us at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Nasarawa State as a whole, while her immense contributions will be sorely missed.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how two Nigerian soldiers were crushed to death by a waste collection truck after falling from their motorcycle in Kaduna State.
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Developm ent Goals…
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos, Oluyinka Olumide has revealed that…
Nigerian billionaire, Prince Arthur Eze has called on Nigerians to support the administration of President…
Nigerian songstress, Yemi Alade has slammed the Lagos State government over the recent demolitions of…
Hollywood actor Bernard Hill, known for his roles in "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings,"…
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the detention of Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with…