A 34-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker and former footballer, Quaham Babatunde, was fatally stabbed in Dublin, Ireland, during a violent incident on Saturday morning. Babatunde sustained fatal injuries after being attacked on South Anne Street.
The deceased had a troubled past, having been accused of rape in Italy in 2018. He was arrested, charged, and later deported. A friend of Babatunde confirmed the allegations but maintained that he always claimed innocence.
Babatunde’s football career was marked by promise, having played for Italian clubs like Monselice and Reggiana Primavera. However, his legal troubles, including an arrest in 2019 for brawling and immigration violations, overshadowed his sporting ambitions.
The fatal altercation in Dublin began as a dispute over seating arrangements in a club. Footage from the scene shows a masked man wielding a large knife. Babatunde, described as a peacemaker, was stabbed in the chest and died. Another man was injured but survived.
Investigations by An Garda Síochána led to multiple arrests, including a 23-year-old suspect apprehended in Belfast. Friends of Babatunde expressed shock at his sudden death, describing him as a caring individual trying to rebuild his life. His tragic killing has raised concerns about violence in Dublin’s nightlife and the plight of asylum seekers abroad.
