The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr Musa Kida has commiserated with the family and friends of Felix Kimto who was stabbed to death in Abuja on Tuesday.
The sad incident which happened right in front of the Package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium has thrown the basketball community into a fresh round of mourning.
Kida while lamenting the unfortunate incident described the incident as unfortunate and very difficult to comprehend.
“This is a sad one for his immediate family, friends, and the entire basketball family in Nigeria. I cannot wrap my hand around this because it is just too shocking to comprehend”.
“This death hit me differently because all basketball players anywhere in Nigeria are my kids. I find it so hard to believe that some men with crooked minds can snuff life out of another man just in their quest to rob him.”
Kida who was shocked when the sad news filtered in on Wednesday seized the opportunity to hammer on the need for basketball players to be security conscious.
“Naturally, most basketball players are tall. Due to the height advantage, many see them as a threat which could have led to the attack on Kimto these men who hid under the cloak of darkness to snuff life out of him”.
“We should be security conscious as not to fall prey. Now that sports is gradually being played again with teams, academies, friends coming together to train, we should be on the lookout for each other. Training should end early while people should also endeavour to walk in groups which will make it difficult for attacks of this kind.”
The NBBF president hopes the perpetrators will be brought to book as to provide a soft landing emotionally for his loved ones currently in pain.
Kimto who played for Delta Force Basketball Club of Asaba, Customs, and many other teams was stabbed by armed men who attempted to dispossess him of his belonging.
In the course of resisting his assailants, he was stabbed multiple times which led to his untimely demise.
His remains have been deposited at the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital morgue.
