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Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has called on the UK government and the United Nations to help the people of Nigeria after protesters were killed in the streets of Lagos.
Angry demonstrations have been taking place in Nigeria for two weeks as citizens speak out against the brutality of a now-disbanded section of the police called the Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS).
As many as 12 people were reported killed and others injured after soldiers opened fire in the city’s Lekki district on Tuesday, and Ighalo is among a group of high-profile athletes who have spoken out on social media.
In an emotional video filmed on the field of the Parc des Princes after United’s victory over PSG, Ighalo criticized the Nigerian government as a “murderer” and urged British politicians and the UN to help.
Ighalo, a Nigerian international, said: ‘I’m sad and I don’t know where to start. I am not the type of person who talks about politics, but I can no longer keep quiet about what is happening in Nigeria.
‘I would say [to the] The government is a shame to the world: for killing its own citizens, sending soldiers to the streets, killing [unarmed] protesters because they are protesting for their rights. It is unnecessary.
‘Today, October 20, 2020, you will be remembered in history as the first government to send military personnel to the city to begin killing its own citizens.
‘I am ashamed of this government. I am tired of you. I can not take it anymore. I am calling on the UK government, calling on all those world leaders to see what is happening in Nigeria and to help us, help poor citizens.
‘The government is killing its own citizens. We are calling [the world’s governments], the United Nations, to deal with the matter.
“I want to tell my brothers and sisters at home to stay safe. Be in, please don’t come [outside]. Because this government is murderers and they will continue to kill if the world doesn’t talk about this. ‘
Gary Lineker was one of the first to support Ighalo, retweeting the video to his 7.7 million followers on Twitter.
Anthony Joshua was also quick to support his compatriots amid the horrific scenes in Lagos, posting his own video on Instagram.
In it, he said: ‘In my nightly prayers, I pray for peace and positivity. I know that people on the ground are not trying to be heard for their own benefit, it is for the benefit of the next generation. ‘
The boxer went on to reveal that he is sending aid packages to the country while unable to travel to Nigeria, and he plans to go there to help further when he’s gotten over his next fight, against Kubrat Pulev on December 12.
In Lagos, meanwhile, a 24-hour indefinite curfew was imposed in an attempt to try to quell ongoing violence between citizens and the police and army.
The BBC reports that armed soldiers were seen barricading the protest site minutes before the shooting occurred, with live-streamed social media images showing protesters tending to the wounded.
A witness told the corporation that shortly before 7 pm local time, the soldiers “stopped and started shooting directly” at the peaceful protesters.
They continued: ‘They were shooting and were advancing directly towards us. It was chaos. Someone was hit directly next to me and died on the spot.
It was chaos and they kept shooting at us and shooting at us. It lasted about an hour and a half and the soldiers were picking up the bodies. ”
Michael Essien, Alex Iwobi, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mario Balotelli, Wilfred Ndidi, and John Obi Mikel are among the other high-profile names who have posted photos and videos on their social media channels in an attempt to raise awareness and support citizens. Nigerians.
Many have posted an emotional image of a bloodstained Nigerian flag in an attempt to show the extreme violence that is taking place in the African country.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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