Mansour Lawal, the elder brother of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal, who tragically passed away in Uganda last month, has appealed to both the Nigerian and Ugandan governments to investigate his brother’s death and ensure justice is served.
Abubakar Lawal’s death was confirmed by his club, Vipers SC, and the Ugandan Police on February 24. Initial reports suggested that the 29-year-old footballer died in a motorcycle accident. However, the Ugandan police later revised the details, stating that he allegedly fell from the balcony of a shopping mall in Kampala while visiting a Tanzanian friend. Lawal was buried in his home state of Sokoto on February 25, and he was also honored by his club and their fans on February 28.
In a video shared by Vipers SC, Mansour Lawal called on both the Nigerian and Ugandan governments to collaborate with the Nigerian embassy to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. He emphasized the importance of justice, saying, “They should try their best to bring whoever is responsible for Abubakar Lawal’s death to book.”
He also expressed gratitude for the support his family has received, thanking the Nigerian government, the Sokoto State government, and the Nigerian embassy. “On behalf of myself, and my family, I thank the president of Vipers Club for making sure the remains of Abubakar Lawal returned home,” Mansour added.
The Ugandan authorities have said that the investigation into the cause of Lawal’s death is ongoing. According to the Uganda Police, preliminary reports indicated that Lawal had arrived at the shopping mall in a vehicle registered as UBQ 695G to meet his friend, Tanzanian national Omary Naima. Naima reportedly left Lawal in the room preparing tea and went to a game center in the mall. A short time later, at approximately 8:00 AM, Lawal allegedly fell from the balcony and was rushed to Entebbe Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Nigerian government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian High Commission in Uganda, has promised to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter. NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her concerns on social media, calling the situation “pathetic” and “suspicious,” and demanded a transparent and thorough investigation without any cover-up.
Lawal’s tragic death has shocked the football community. He began his career with Wikki Tourists before moving to Nasarawa United in 2019, and then to As Kigali in Rwanda in 2020. In 2022, he joined Vipers SC in Uganda, where he had been playing before his untimely death.
