The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced the death of one of its rising female prospects, Deborah Onu, to complications from tuberculosis of the spine.

NBBF’s Media Officer, Afolabi Oni, said in a statement that Onu died in the early hours of Saturday at an Abuja-based hospital.

According to Oni, the sad news was made public by the Secretary-General of the NBBF, Olabisi Afolabi-Oluwayemi while briefing the board.

He quoted the Secretary-General as saying that the late Onu was responding to treatments after undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of Primus Hospital, Karu, before the sad incidence.

“We were told she showed marked improvements and was gradually being eased off life support before her condition took a turn for the worst overnight before giving up the ghost. This is very sad and painful,” she said

Oni said the NBBF President, Mr Musa Kida, lamented the loss of the promising and talented basketball player at such an unripe age.

“Our thoughts are with the parents, coaches and teammates at these dark hours.

“We pray for her gentle soul to find repose with her creator, while granting those she left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“We are comforted that she died knowing that Nigerians cared for her.

”From the reports we gathered, she was wrongly diagnosed for months by different doctors which made her case more complicated,” Kida was quoted as saying.

He added that burial arrangements would be announced by the family. (NAN)