Nigerian footballers arrested for breaking lockdown

30 footballers in Nigeria’s Kano state have been arrested after organising and playing several matches despite an ongoing lockdown in place to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

The players organised matches in different locations around the state and shared footage of the fixtures online. In one video, fans can be seen watching from the sidelines. 

Kano state police chief Abdullahi Haruna said the players were arrested after one of their matches in the Dala area. 

He said they would be charged with breaking the lockdown rules, which stipulate that Nigerians should remain in their homes except for essential trips such as shopping for food.

Kano state has been on lockdown since 16th April. On Monday President Buhari announced a two-week extension to the lockdown measures in the major cities of Lagos, Abuja, and the neighbouring Ogun state. 

Kano currently has 73 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the highest in northern Nigeria. State governors have now banned Koranic schools in a further effort to prevent the virus from spreading. 

Photo: Expressive Info