SportsSports Personalities React To Tuesday Night Shooting Of Protesters

Sports Personalities React To Tuesday Night Shooting Of Protesters

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BEVERLY HILLS, October 21, (THEWILL) – In the aftermath of what was a bloody Tuesday night shooting of peaceful protesters demanding for an end to the dreaded SARS Police unit by men believed to be from the Nigerian military, several sports personalities have gone online to voice their opposition to the shootings and express their solidarity with the peaceful protesters.

Earlier on Wednesday, THEWILL reported that English Premier League (EPL) Manchester United player and ex-Nigerian international Odion Ighalo posted a video message where he expressed grave disappointment with the government for the bloodletting and called on international bodies and foreign governments to show concern with what was happening.

Also in that report, THEWILL quoted the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who tweeted: “The situation has escalated, the violence and killings are horrendous. All because of people saying they want to live in peace?”

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Since then, others also from the world of sports have joined their voices to roundly condemn the violence meted out to unarmed, peaceful protesters while siding with the demands of the youths for an end to police brutality and intimidation under the hashtags #ENDSARS #EndPoliceBrutality #EndPoliceBrutalityInNigeria

One of those who tweeted this support was EPL Chelsea FC right back Reece James.

The Englishman, from his Twitter handle @reecejames_24 said, “You don’t need to be Nigerian to speak out what’s currently happening is devastating! My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected across the world. This need to end #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality”

In the same light, Wilfried Zaha, graduate of the EPL Crystal Palace Academy and now their talented goal poacher lent his voice to the issue. In his tweet (@wilfriedzaha), the Ivorian expressed his deep sadness about what was happening.
“I don’t know what is going on in Nigeria right now but I pray it all stops because it’s painful seeing innocent people killed daily #EndSARS”

The other personality in sports to tweet about the violence targeted at the protesters was German centre back Antonio Rüdiger, who plies his trade with London-based EPL side Chelsea FC.

THEWILL recalls that @Toni Ruediger had expressed his backing for the protesters before which THEWILL published alongside the support of other sports personalities. The German alluded to that in his tweet on Wednesday.

“After my short statement about Nigeria already last week I’m now even more shocked about how the situation there has got more and more out of control. This saddens me so much. This has absolutely nothing to do with democracy.”

He then, in the second tweet of the thread, addresses the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria via his Twitter handle which Rudiger expressly mentioned.

‘It is more like a military rule and it’s a violation of human rights at the highest order. President @mbuhari and the Nigerian Army, stop killing peaceful young protesters. Stop killing the people you are supposed to protect.”

Rudiger ended the thread with this:

“The protesters didn’t ask for war, just for a better Nigeria. #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndSARS”

Reactions to the events of Tuesday night at the Lekki Toll Gate, and similar instances of unprovoked violence against protesters, are still coming in from around the globe as observers come to terms with the sheer brutality of it all and THEWILL is on top of all the reporting as they come in.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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