The tragic death of Abubakar Lawal, a former Nigerian junior international and Vipers SC player in Uganda, has sparked suspicions and calls for a thorough investigation. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has vowed to ensure a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the 29-year-old footballer’s sudden demise.
Lawal’s death was confirmed on Monday by both his football club and Ugandan authorities. Initially, reports suggested he died in a motorcycle accident, but Ugandan police later revised their statement, revealing that Lawal allegedly fell from the balcony of a shopping mall in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
According to the Ugandan Police, Lawal had arrived at the mall in his vehicle to meet his friend, Omary Naima, a Tanzanian national. Naima reportedly left Lawal in her hotel room while she went to a nearby game center. It was later reported that at around 8:00 AM, Lawal tragically fell from the balcony and was rushed to Entebbe Referral Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The conflicting reports surrounding his death have raised eyebrows, especially among Nigerians, including Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, who had been a former teammate of Lawal. In response to the unsettling situation, Dabiri-Erewa assured the public that NiDCOM was actively monitoring the investigation. “The conflicting accounts suggest something suspicious about his death,” she said, emphasizing that NiDCOM is working closely with Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to ensure a transparent investigation.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed her concerns, stating, “This is deeply saddening, and the circumstances seem highly suspicious. NiDCOM will demand a full and transparent investigation to ensure that justice is served. No cover-up will be tolerated.” She also revealed that the Nigerian Embassy in Uganda, led by Ambassador Shama Shanga, has been in contact with local authorities since the news broke, demanding a thorough inquiry.
Abubakar Lawal, who began his career at Wikki Tourists, later played for Nasarawa United before moving to Rwanda’s As Kigali. After two successful years in Rwanda, he joined Uganda’s Vipers SC, where he had been playing until his untimely death.
As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians are rallying behind NiDCOM’s call for justice for Lawal, hoping that the truth will soon emerge.
