FLASH: Coronavirus kills Prominent Nigerian Pathologist, Dr Olumide Okunuga in Italy, body cremated.
An Italy-based Nigerian Pathologist, Dr. Olumide Okunuga has reportedly died of the deadly coronavirus and body cremated according to close family friends and family members.
Dr. Okunuga who hails from Ikenne Remo in Ogun State died Tuesday morning in Italy aged 63 years.
Okunuga, according to documented reports from family members, was the President of Egbe Omo Yoruba, Emila Romagna and Vice-President of Yoruba National Community in Italy.
The 64-year-old pathologist from Ikenne Remo, in Ogun State, was a two-time councillor for Modena, Italy where he had lived for 35 years.
Okunugu was said to have been suffering from high fever for some days but was to quarantined because he had a pre-existing medical condition.
He was later diagnosed of coronavirus in the same Italy (NOT CANADA), a country that have recorded nearly a thousand deaths in Europe. Health Authorities are not sure where he contracted the virus though his family over there in Italy have been quarantined and currently undergoing tests.
A trusted colleague of mine (craved anonymity so as not to hurt the sensibilities do the grieving family members) , who knows the family members of the late doctor personally, said that the remains of Okunuga, were asked to be recognised from a distance by his daughter, Dr. Bolanle Okunuga (also a doctor), whose mother is a Caucasian of Italian origin before it was cremated. He said his blood relations were still in shock over his sudden demise.
It is reported that the Italian health officials refused to release Okunuga’s body because it had to to be duly investigated and cremated.
“His death has left the Yoruba community in Italy totally devastated. We have lost a very great man who is in the apex of his career,” an official of the Egbe Omo Yoruba who did not want to be named said.
An obituary by the The Yoruba Community in Italy announcing his death went viral on Sunday.
It reads: With Gratitude To Almighty God , the Yoruba community in Italy regrets to announce the sudden death of a 64 year old DR. OLUMIDE OKUNUGA, on Tuesday 10th March 2020.
“He was a Pathologist, an indigene of Ikenne Remo Ogun State, Nigeria. The President of Egbe Omo Yoruba Emilia Romagna and the Vice President of Yoruba National Community Italy. And two time elected councillor for Modena Italy, where he lived for 35years.”
The extended family members of the deceased are in Lagos, but they are originally from Ogun. Dr. Olumide Okunuga is the first Nigerian to have reportedly died of coronavirus.
May his soul find peace and may God grant the family members the fortitude to bear his loss.
What was updated in this article:
- Conflicting reports verified
- A Nigerian doctor actually died of coronavirus
- He died in Italy NOT Canada
- Spoke with family friends of deceased
- Family members still grieving.
CAVEAT: The news of a Nigerian doctor dying in the UK of coronavirus is completely false. The lady, Ayishat Akanbi who claimed to be related to the doctor and shared the story on Twitter was called out by Nigerians based in the UK including Abike Dabiri, she has since deleted the tweet and apologized for “chasing clout”.
Sources:
Family members and
friends of the deceased
NATION
