Grief has swept across Nigeria's athletics community following the tragic killing of Nigerian runner and graduate student Oluwabukola Pereira in the United States, just days before she was scheduled to complete her MBA programme.
The 30-year-old athlete was reportedly shot during a robbery incident at Arise Auto Center in Lockland, Ohio, where she worked. According to Premium Times, authorities in Hamilton County have launched an investigation into the incident, although police have not officially confirmed the motive behind the attack.
Details of the Incident
Local reports indicate that Pereira confronted a suspect accused of stealing approximately $1,500 from the business before the shooting occurred. A co-worker at the auto shop, Don Simpson, described her as courageous and hardworking, as reported by TheCable.
“She was loyal, good and brave,” Simpson said. “She came to this country trying to build a good life.”
Pereira had been preparing to graduate from Xavier University on May 16 with a Master of Business Administration degree. The university also disclosed that she had secured admission for another postgraduate programme in Business Analytics, scheduled to begin later this year.
In a statement issued after her death, university president Colleen Hanycz praised Pereira's personality and her impact on those around her.
“Friends describe her as kind, honest, intelligent and beautiful — inside and out,” the statement read.
Nigerian Athletics Community Mourns
Beyond her academic pursuits, Pereira remained active in sports and participated in races with Cincinnati's Elite running group, including the Flying Pig Marathon. Her family described her as “a bright and shining star” devoted to prayer, worship, and supporting others.
Speaking from Lagos, her former grassroots coach, Rauf Abass, said news of her death came as a painful shock to athletes who knew her during her early sporting years in Nigeria.
“She was humble, disciplined and dedicated to her dreams,” Abass said. “This is a huge loss. I pray for the repose of her soul and for God to grant her family the strength to bear this painful loss.”
Abass added that Pereira rose through the ranks at Greater Tomorrow Athletics Club in Lagos before relocating abroad.
Police Investigation Continues
Friends and former teammates have continued to pay tribute to the late athlete, who was also reportedly preparing for her wedding later this year after getting engaged in 2025. Investigators believe the suspect is a Black or Hispanic man between 25 and 35 years old with braided hair or dreadlocks. Police said he was last seen fleeing toward the Gardner Park area and urged members of the public with useful information to contact Crime Stoppers.
