Nigerian Taekwondo Medalist, Maria Raphael Crushed To Death By Truck In Nasarawa

A Taekwondo athlete, Maria Raphael, has been crushed to death by a truck while on her way to purchase some items from a grocery store in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Maria Raphael Is Dead

The deceased lost her life on Friday, August 26, shortly after returning from Yenagua where she won a silver medal for team Nasarawa in the just concluded Bayelsa Open Taekwondo, which was held between August 21 and 24, 2022.

Maria also won a bronze medal in the 46kg women’s category at the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship, held recently in Lagos State.

A statement issued by Eche Amos, spokesman of the  Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, described Maria’s death as an unquantifiable loss, saying her immense contributions to sports in the state would be sorely missed.

The statement reads, “Maria was crushed to death (sic) by an articulated vehicle (trailer) along UAC Road here in Lafia, while on her way to purchase some items from a grocery store in the evening of Friday, 26th August, 2022, few hours after returning home from a championship in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where she represented Nasarawa State.”

“At the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship held early this month in Lagos, the late Maria Raphael was one of the athletes who inspired Team Nasarawa to finish 4th position on the medals’ table as she won a bronze medal in the -46kg Women’s Category at the Championship.

“The deceased was a committed, dedicated and focused athlete, winning medals of different categories for Nasarawa State, ranging from cadet, junior and senior category, until her untimely demise.

“Maria brought lots of glory and honour to Nasarawa State. Her demise is an unquantifiable loss to everyone of us at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Nasarawa State as a whole, while her immense contributions will be sorely missed.”

KanyiDaily had also reported how two Nigerian soldiers were crushed to death by a waste collection truck after falling from their motorcycle in Kaduna State.