Nigerian student in US dies of coronavirus few weeks before graduation

A 25-year-old Nigerian student in the US of the Western Michigan University in Detroit has died on Saturday after contracting the coronavirus.

The student, Bassey Offiong, was expected to graduate with a chemical engineering degree in a few weeks.

His sister, Asari Offiong, said her brother told her he was turned down several times for the coronavirus test in the Kalamazoo area while living off-campus despite having fever, fatigue and shortness of breath.

“I told him to ask them to test him,” Offiong said. “He said they refused to test him.”

One medical staffer told him he had bronchitis, she said. She said he had no known prior health issues. Offiong said she wasn’t ready to disclose the locations where he was denied a test.

He was hospitalized at Beaumont in Royal Oak and spent the last week on a ventilator in their intensive care unit. She called her “baby brother” sweet and humble and a “gentle giant.” She last saw him a week ago.

“I know God has him in his presence,” Offiong said. “He loved God.”

He was a member of the Christ the King Miracle Church in Redford Township.