By Ime Bassey with agency report

The unrest in Bamako, the Malian capital took another dimension in the early hours of Thursday as the Malian Army forces stormed Hotel Columbus where the players and officials are lodged and searched their rooms.

The soldiers who stormed the hotel around 2.am (3. am Nigeria time) knocked at the door of goalkeeper Segun Oluwaniyi (Room 218) and thoroughly searched his room as he was asked of his identity.

Meanwhile, other players refused to open their doors for fear of being harmed by the soldiers who were said to be fully armed.

Speaking after the incident from Bamako, Oluwaniyi said he nearly pass out when he saw the solders at his door at that odd hour.

“I have never experience such in my lifetime, they (solders) knocked at my door around 2. am and I asked who is it and they said they are securities, I summoned the courage and open the door and I saw battalions of soldiers in front of my room with a lot of ammunition, I was scared but one of the soldiers who speaks English said they are here because of the situation in the country that they want to check my identity.I brought out my passport and they checked all my belongings.”

“They checked the bathroom, wardrobe; I told them we are still in Bamako because, we missed our flight because of the prevailing situation of the country. He then asked me how many of us are in the hotel and I told , so I told him that we are ten. After that, they left my room and told me to be calm. It was a scary experience but at the same time I give thanks to God.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has directed his Commissioner for Youths and Sports and and the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun and Dr. Kola Ademujimi respectively to arrange for the Nigeria Army jet to rescue the players and officials out of the troubled country.