‘3 US based Nigerians have died from coronavirus infection’

The death of three Nigerians who died after contracting the new coronavirus disease which has claimed 61,174 lives so far globally from 1,140,129 cases worldwide has been confirmed.

This was revealed on Sunday by Mr. Benaoyagha Okoyen, the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, who said that the first case was that of a 60-year-old lady, Hajia Laila Abubakar Ali from Kano State.

According to Okoyen, Hajia Abubakar died on March 25, while receiving treatment at the Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

He identified the second case as 25-year-old Bassey Offiong, a final year Chemical Engineering student at Western Michigan University, while the third was a medical practitioner, Dr. Caleb Anya, from Ohafia in Abia State.

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Okoyen said: “It is regrettable to announce that three Nigerians have died of COVID-19 in the United States of America.

“The first case was a 60-year-old lady, Hajia Laila Abubakar Ali of Kano descent, who died on March 25, while receiving treatment at the Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

“Secondly, 25-year-old Bassey Offiong from Calabar, a final year Chemical Engineering student of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, died on Saturday, March 28, at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

“Unfortunately, the last case was a medical practitioner, Dr Caleb Anya, from Ohafia in Abia State.

“He died while rendering service to humanity on the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in New York on April 1.

“On behalf of the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, I wish to extend our condolences to the families of the deceased Nigerians in this tragic circumstance,’’ his statement read in part.

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