MANILA, Philippines — The family of basketball player Chukwuemeka Divine Adili has requested an autopsy before arrangements for the repatriation of his remains to Nigeria are finalized, the Nigerian Embassy in Manila said.
The Nigerian student-athlete of Ateneo de Manila University and teammate Rene Baterbonia drowned on June 8 in a training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora province.
The embassy on Wednesday appealed to the Nigerian community the Philippines "to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from circulating unverified information on social media."
"At this stage, the Embassy has not received any official information suggesting foul play," the Mission posted on Facebook.
It also assured Nigerians that the "relevant Philippine authorities have commenced investigations, while other stakeholders are likewise reviewing the circumstances leading to the tragedy."
"The Embassy remains committed to protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerian citizens in the Philippines and will continue to monitor developments closely," it added.
