Rescue operations are ongoing at the scene of the earthquake in Turkey (Photo: AFP). The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) announced that all Nigerian players based in Turkey are safe after the devastating quake that struck the southern Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş on Monday. In an Instagram post that evening, the NFF expressed sorrow over the disaster and offered condolences to the victims.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is sad about the unfortunate earthquake in Kahramanmaraş city of Turkey. NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau has reached out to Nigerian players based in Turkey and they have all confirmed that they are fine. We pray the souls of the departed rest in peace even as we commiserate with the people of Turkey at this time,” the federation said.
Earlier reports had indicated that Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu was among those still trapped under the rubble after a 7.7‑magnitude earthquake hit Gaziantep in southern Turkey. The former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker, who joined Turkish club Hatayspor last summer, was missing along with the club’s sporting director, Taner Savut, whose homes were also affected.
Al Jazeera noted that the initial quake was followed by a series of aftershocks and a 7.5‑magnitude tremor in the afternoon, raising the death toll to over 2,000 and destroying dozens of buildings. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority confirmed that the earthquake struck at 4:17 a.m. local time, describing it as the country’s most severe seismic event in years.
Nigeria’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired), expressed willingness to support Turkey and Syria “in any way possible,” while also extending sympathy to the governments and peoples of both countries and to those who lost family and friends in the disaster.
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