CCTV footage has shown the last moments of Benjamin Kiplagat, who was murdered by thugs.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that the Ugandan athlete was “hunted down in the dead of the night,” stabbed, and left to die by the roadside.
CCTV captured the last moments Benjamin attempted to flee from his killers before crashing into a ditch.
The world of athletics has been dealt another tragic blow as an international athlete was fatally attacked in Kimumu, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on Sunday night.
Benjamin Kiplagat, the 2008 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist representing Uganda, was discovered murdered along the road leading to his home in Kimumu.
The Moiben Sub-county police commandant, Stephen Okal, reported that a public alert about an accident led officers to the scene around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Kiplagat, found in the driver’s seat, had been stabbed in the chest with a deep cut on his neck.
The last moments of Benjamin Kiplagat via @SaddiqueShaban pic.twitter.com/6GxJdgtgS7
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 1, 2024
The authorities suspect foul play, suggesting that the assailants used a motorcycle to block his path before carrying out the crime and escaping.
“We are still probing the incident to determine the details, but we can confirm that the deceased is the international athlete Benjamin Kiplagat,” stated Okal.
Originally from Marakwet East, Kiplagat had been training in Eldoret before heading to Uganda for various competitions.
His athletic career included representing Uganda at events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi (where he narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth), the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea (10th position), and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, United Kingdom (reaching the semifinals).
Kiplagat also secured a bronze medal at the Africa Championships in Porto Novo, Benin, in 2012.
Despite facing challenges in subsequent competitions, such as the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, he continued to contribute to the sport.
