Kampala, (UG):- Abubakar Lawal, a 29-year-old Nigerian forward for Ugandan soccer giants Vipers SC, has tragically passed away in a tragic accident after falling off from the third floor of Voicemall Shopping Arcade on Monday morning.
Preliminary reports indicate that Lawal arrived at the shopping mall in his vehicle, registration number UBQ 695G, to meet his friend, Omary Naima, a Tanzanian national residing in room 416 since February 20, 2024.
According to Naima, she left Lawal in the room preparing tea and proceeded to a game centre within the mall. Shortly after, at approximately 8:00 AM, Lawal reportedly fell from the balcony. He was rushed to Entebbe Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal, who left us this morning,” SC Vipers posted in an obituary message this afternoon.
“His body has been transferred to a medical facility for postmortem examination. Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lawal’s family, club fans, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” the club added in a social media post.
Police said items belonging to the deceased, including two smartphones, a pair of open shoes, headsets, a training kit, and chargers, were recovered from his black backpack.
“As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities are retrieving CCTV footage and conducting thorough interrogations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” the Deputy Police Spokesperson, Kampala Metropolitan, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire stated on Monday.
About Lawal
Lawal, who joined Vipers SC in 2022, had previously spent two years at Rwanda’s AS Kigali.
The forward had a significant career in the Nigerian Premier League, featuring for Kano Pillars FC, Wikki Tourists FC, and FC Nasarawa between 2014 and 2020.
During his time at Vipers SC, Lawal made eight appearances in the ongoing Uganda Premier League season, although he did not score or register an assist. In the previous season, however, he had scored twice in seven matches for the club.
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