Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, the Consul General of Nigeria in New York has confirmed that three Nigerians have died from the deadly coronavirus disease in the United States.
NAN reports that Okoyen made this known to newsmen in New York on Saturday evening, stating that one of them, a doctor from Abia, got the virus while he was on duty in New York, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in the U.S.
According to him, the second person was one Bassey Offiong, a 25-year-old final year student of Chemical Engineering at Western Michigan University.
He said “It is sad to announce that three Nigerians have died of coronavirus 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.
“The second case was a 25-year-old Bassey Offiong from Calabar, who was a final year Chemical Engineering student of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, he 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 selfless service to humanity on the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic in New York on April 1.
“On behalf of the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, we wish to extend our condolences to the families of the deceased Nigerians in these trying times.
“We are totally proud and impressed with Nigerian medical professionals in the USA who form part of the incredible workforce in the service of humanity at this time.”
