Jimbo 175 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 NEWCASTLE striker Obafemi Martins last night told of his terror after a gang of masked gunmen fired at his car — wounding a pal. His Mercedes was sprayed with bullets and his passenger hit in the hand and shoulder. Shocked Martins, 22, said: “They shot indiscriminately and tried to kill all the occupants of the car. They weren’t there to rob me but to finish me off. “I thought I was going to die. They executed it like professional hired assassins. "They didn’t say anything to me but just started shooting at the car. It was hell. I was dead in my heart and soul. It all happened like in the movies.” The horror ordeal began when three masked gunmen surrounded Martins at a petrol station near his plush apartment in Lagos, Nigeria, late on Monday night. The player, who is now recovering in Italy, said: “I didn’t know their mission but they looked scary and mean. My nerves were completely dead when I saw the guns.” The terrified Magpies ace tried to reverse his car to get away but was blocked by another car parked behind him. Gunshots were fired at the windscreen and through the passenger window. Martins’ mate Remi Onipede was hit but the St James’ Park hero managed to run for cover before cops arrived. The gang did not steal the car and Martins now believes their motive could have been murder — as payback for him missing a recent international — rather than robbery. He said: “If you are attacked by armed robbers, they only threaten you and take whatever they want but these guys were only after my life. “How I managed to escape is still shocking and unbelievable. “Maybe someone up there loves me more than I could imagine because only he could explain what happened. “But my mother is scared they could come back again. “She almost passed out when she saw the car. She just kept asking who wants me dead. “I don’t feel safe in Lagos any more and don’t think I want to return so fast. "I was born in Lagos, I am a Lagosian. But when I don’t feel safe in my hometown then something must be wrong. “I am not running away from armed robbers but people who want to take the life of Obafemi Martins. "It’s a great thing to play for your country, put smiles on the faces of people and also feel safe among your family and fans. “But when the situation gets out of hand, I don’t think coming home is something I can even contemplate.” Onipede, speaking to The Sun from his hospital bed, said: “I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine. “Those people were merciless, they just kept shooting at us.” Martins’ mum Alhaja added: “Obafemi is the breadwinner of my family and some evil people want him dead. “Tell me why he should continue to stay here. “I have told him to return to Europe and I will join him there when I feel like seeing him. “They might return to haunt him, so it will be stupid of him to stay.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47247 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted June 20, 2007 Author Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! They clearly know how to look after the elderly in Nigeria.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Word on the street is that it is Gemmill who has put the hit out on Oba, this is yet to be confirmed though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 NEWCASTLE striker Obafemi Martins last night told of his terror after a gang of masked gunmen fired at his car — wounding a pal. His Mercedes was sprayed with bullets and his passenger hit in the hand and shoulder. Shocked Martins, 22, said: “They shot indiscriminately and tried to kill all the occupants of the car. They weren’t there to rob me but to finish me off. “I thought I was going to die. They executed it like professional hired assassins. "They didn’t say anything to me but just started shooting at the car. It was hell. I was dead in my heart and soul. It all happened like in the movies.” The horror ordeal began when three masked gunmen surrounded Martins at a petrol station near his plush apartment in Lagos, Nigeria, late on Monday night. The player, who is now recovering in Italy, said: “I didn’t know their mission but they looked scary and mean. My nerves were completely dead when I saw the guns.” The terrified Magpies ace tried to reverse his car to get away but was blocked by another car parked behind him. Gunshots were fired at the windscreen and through the passenger window. Martins’ mate Remi Onipede was hit but the St James’ Park hero managed to run for cover before cops arrived. The gang did not steal the car and Martins now believes their motive could have been murder — as payback for him missing a recent international — rather than robbery. He said: “If you are attacked by armed robbers, they only threaten you and take whatever they want but these guys were only after my life. “How I managed to escape is still shocking and unbelievable. “Maybe someone up there loves me more than I could imagine because only he could explain what happened. “But my mother is scared they could come back again. “She almost passed out when she saw the car. She just kept asking who wants me dead. “I don’t feel safe in Lagos any more and don’t think I want to return so fast. "I was born in Lagos, I am a Lagosian. But when I don’t feel safe in my hometown then something must be wrong. “I am not running away from armed robbers but people who want to take the life of Obafemi Martins. "It’s a great thing to play for your country, put smiles on the faces of people and also feel safe among your family and fans. “But when the situation gets out of hand, I don’t think coming home is something I can even contemplate.” Onipede, speaking to The Sun from his hospital bed, said: “I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine. “Those people were merciless, they just kept shooting at us.” Martins’ mum Alhaja added: “Obafemi is the breadwinner of my family and some evil people want him dead. “Tell me why he should continue to stay here. “I have told him to return to Europe and I will join him there when I feel like seeing him. “They might return to haunt him, so it will be stupid of him to stay.” At least Roeder had an influence on one of our players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Good job the gunman was as accurate as Martins tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norbert Colon 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Aye and i reckon it would be the fastest he has moved for 18 months(can't blame him like) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Real nice guys... I'm just glad that one of our players hasn't been murdered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Real nice guys... I'm just glad that one of our players hasn't been murdered. Monging out for no apparent reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47247 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Real nice guys... I'm just glad that one of our players hasn't been murdered. Minute's silence in Luke's house to contemplate what might have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Real nice guys... I'm just glad that one of our players hasn't been murdered. Minute's silence in Luke's house to contemplate what might have been. ........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walliver 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! To see the internal damage caused by the bullets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47247 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! To see the internal damage caused by the bullets? He wasn't hit by any though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! To see the internal damage caused by the bullets? He wasn't hit by any though. It was his mate who had the X-rays, he was hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Oba looks to have been canny lucky. I wonder what sort of insurance payment we would have got if he had been killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47247 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 "I am grateful to God for his favours because I could have been a dead man by now. But I’ve had X-rays and doctors say I will be fine." X-rays for what? Bullets that might have passed through his skin unnoticed?! To see the internal damage caused by the bullets? He wasn't hit by any though. It was his mate who had the X-rays, he was hit. Ah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Ladies and gentlemen, your prime suspect is... Oba looks to have been canny lucky. I wonder what sort of insurance payment we would have got if he had been killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 worth a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 worth a try Knowing us we have only got his legs covered, which won't be shot thus we get nowt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 He should have just run away from them tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magma 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Bloody hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31603 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 NEWCASTLE striker Obafemi Martins last night told of his terror after a gang of masked gunmen fired at his car — wounding a pal. Gemmill never gets the credit for his hard work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Worth playing gunshots over the PA whenever we want him to run off the shoulders of defenders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47247 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 I'm not buying his "it was just like in the movies" line either. He walked away unscathed - just like in the A-Team, more like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smooth Operator 10 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 “I have told him to return to Europe and I will join him there when I feel like seeing him. Thanks mam! The price of petrol has doubled in Nigeria recently and the country is close to civil war so I'm hoping it's more to do with this than him not playing in a game of football! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now