‘Taribo West is Alive, Hale and Hearty’–Victor Ikpeba
…Team Mates: ‘Evil Wishers Are Enemies of Nigeria’
*Dismissed Death rumour as LIES, Blackmail and Hoax
* ‘To Tweet Taribo West is Dead without 100% Sure of Authenticity Baffles Me’-Kayode Tijani
BY KETEFE SOLOMON ANJORIN/SPORTS EDITOR, ABUJA
FOLLOWING the lies and untruthful news by a local media outlet in Nigeria (Not NAIJA STANDARD) that famous ex-Super Eagles’ defender, Taribo West is dead, the former team mates of this football hero have taken to the social media to debunk, refute and disclaim the story that obviously originated from a junk publication. To some of Taribo’s team mates, lies cannot stand in the face of truth, since it is clear that evil wishers are the enemies of Nigeria.
Ace player and former Africa Player of the Year, Victor Ikpeba has negated the news announcing Taribo’s death describing it as rumour. His words via twitter on V_Ikpeba: “My brother Taribo West is Alive. Please ignore the rumour that he is dead.”
The fake reports that filtered the air on Friday evening has it that the former Super Eagles’ defence stalwart died in South Africa, but his former teammate, Ikpeba, close associates and experienced Sport Editors rebuffed the claims via Twitter, by maintaining that the story is untrue.
Without doubt, the rumoured death of this former Nigeria international, Taribo led to much panic in the country’s sports fraternity.
Confirming this news on Taribo’s death as rumour and blackmail by the junk media outlet , team mates of the defender spoke to NAIJA STANDARD. “God will forgive the person that started the rumour on Pastor Taribo West’s death”, stated Aluko Ibukunoluwa of IBK Sports.
For Kayode Tijani, a walking Sport Encyclopedia on twitter handle: kayodetijani200, “Why someone will just tweet that TARIBO WEST is dead without being 100% sure baffles me, really tragic. LLAP Pastor. It is really sad.”
Another ex-international, Edema Fuludu, also stated that he had spoken with Taribo and there was no truth in the death reports. Several media publications (not NAIJA STANDARD) had pronounced Taribo dead on the basis of a report on a South African radio station
The report had it that Taribo was flown into South Africa for medical treatment but did not state what he was diagnosed of. His body was said to have since been sent for autopsy but all that have been confirmed to be false.
It would be recalled that earlier this year, Nigeria lost two football icons, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu.
Reactions from Team Mates, Close Associates & Sport Editors on Twitter
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My brother Taribo West is alive. Please ignore rumours that he is dead.
Why someone will just tweet that TARIBO WEST is dead without being 100 per cent sure baffles me, really tragic.LLAP Pastor.Its really sad.
God will forgive the person that started the rumour on Pastor Taribo West death. ..He’s very much alive. …Confirm before posting any news
It’s so disgusting when people put out silly talks on social media. PLEASE TARIBO WEST IS DOING JUST FINE. Just got off the phone with him.
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WARNING: Ignore rumors of the death of Taribo West. I have spoken to him. He is alive, hale and hearty
