LAGOS (AFP) - Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins will return to Nigeria on Friday following the death of his mother.

Monsurat Martins died of shock here on Wednesday in the aftermath of a petrol tanker accident that killed at least 12 people. She will be buried on Friday.

The 62-year-old had been helping her family and friends escape the area after accident, which caused a huge inferno and several explosions near her home.

"This is a huge blow to Martins because he was very close to his mother," a family member said.

The former Inter Milan star will be given compassionate leave by Newcastle and has been left out of Kevin Keegan's squad for Saturday's friendly at Doncaster.

He is also likely to miss next week's Mallorca Summer Cup matches against Hertha Berlin and Real Mallorca.

A Newcastle spokesman said: "Oba has flown back to Nigeria on compassionate grounds to be with his family at what is a very sad time for them.

"Everyone at the club extends their greatest sympathies to Oba and his relatives."

Martins' agent Chris Nathaniel asked for his client to be given time to grieve in private. "As you would expect, Oba is extremely upset at the moment," he said.

"This has come as a massive shock to him and his family. His mother was a guiding light to him and had a strong influence on his life.

"At this difficult time for Oba and the family, it is important they are allowed to mourn their loss in private, and I hope the media allows them to do this."