Tragedy in US as Nigerian MBA Student Is Killed During Robbery Incident

A Nigerian student, Oluwabukola Pereira, has been killed in the United States just days before she was expected to complete her Master of Business Administration programme at Xavier University.

Authorities disclosed that Pereira was shot on Friday, May 8, during a robbery incident at Arise Auto Center, where she worked.
Investigators from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office are currently probing the circumstances surrounding the shooting, while officials say no motive has been officially confirmed.
According to local media reports quoting a colleague, Don Simpson, Pereira reportedly pursued a suspect who fled with about $1,500 before she was shot during the incident.
Simpson described her as hardworking and courageous, noting that she was determined to build a successful future in the United States.
Police identified the suspect as a male believed to be between 25 and 35 years old. He was described as Black or Hispanic, with long braided hair or dreadlocks, and was last seen heading toward the Gardner Park area.
Pereira had been scheduled to graduate on May 16. Xavier University also confirmed that she had secured admission into a postgraduate programme in Business Analytics, which was due to begin later this year.
President of Xavier University, Colleen Hanycz, described Pereira as a student known for her positive attitude, strong faith, and generosity. Fellow students and friends also remembered her as intelligent, kind-hearted, and highly respected within the university community.
Outside academics, Pereira was active in athletics and participated in competitions with a Cincinnati-based running group, including the Flying Pig Marathon.
Her family revealed that she was the first of four children and had been preparing for marriage after getting engaged in 2025.
Authorities said investigations into the killing are ongoing and appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that could help locate the suspect.