Mass exodus looms in El kanemi

The fear of terrorists in the North East axis of Nigeria is the beginning of wisdom for some players of Southern extraction in El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri as they have vowed to dump the club at the end of the season.

Some of the players who spoke to me on condition of anonymity said their lives are endangered owing to the spate of bombings, killings and mayhem in the once peaceful Maiduguri.

One of them summed up the situation in that part of the country this way.

‘We are constantly living in fear and I don’t want to lose my life because of any job. I am too young to die. I will definitely leave the city end of the season to continue my football career elsewhere. It is very scary living in Maiduguri even though the people are very nice to us.”

El Kanemi Warriors have just returned to the Nigeria Premier League after a stimulating performance in the lower league last season and are currently participating in the Federation Cup at the Agege Centre of the competition in Lagos.

The coach Kelechi Emeteole side are yet to concede a goal so far, after playing two games, winning one and drawing the other.