LONDON, June 20 - Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins said he narrowly escaped death or serious injury after being shot at while driving in Lagos.

The Nigeria international escaped unhurt but a friend was injured after masked gunmen sprayed his Mercedes with bullets.

"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," the 22-year-old former Inter Milan player said in Wednesday's Sun newspaper.

"I thought I was going to die. They executed it like professional hired assassins. It was hell.

"I was dead in my heart and soul. It all happened like something in the movies."

According to the report, the incident happened near a petrol station in the Nigerian city where Martins grew up and still owns an apartment.

"How I managed to escape is still shocking and unbelievable," added the player who scored 11 league goals in his first season at St James Park. "Maybe someone up there loves me more than I could imagine."

Martins said he would be reluctant to return to Nigeria for international duty.

"I don't feel safe in Lagos any more," he said. "When the situation gets out of control I don't think coming home is something I can even contemplate."