Police in Kano have arrested 30 footballers who organised and played several matches despite an ongoing lockdown to help deal with the spread of coronavirus, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.

The footballers played in different locations around the state and in a video shared online fans can be seen watching one of the matches.

Kano's state police chief Abdullahi Haruna is quoted as saying that the players were arrested after one of their matches in the Dala area.

He said they would be charged with breaking the lockdown rules, according to NAN.

This is Kano youths praying football and @Abbahikima said this is the scene all over the city.

Wondering why Police has not deployed it men there.

One wouldn’t doubt that, some people are first class citizens in this country and untouchable#COVID19 #Lockdown @PoliceNG pic.twitter.com/UfjyXvfAXk

— Nkiruka Nistoran (@NkirukaNistoran) April 20, 2020

Kano state has been on a seven-day lockdown since 16 April.

It currently has 73 confirmed cases of Covid-19.