The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) has once again been marred by violence, as Shooting Stars of Ibadan fans held Ikorodu (Lagos) City Football Club players and officials hostage following their goalless draw at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Persecondnews reports that in a dramatic turn of events, soldiers stormed the stadium, bringing an end to a tense 90-minute hostage situation involving Ikorodu City FC.
The swift military response ensured the safe rescue of the team, alleviating concerns for their well-being.
A soccer buff said the despicable behaviour is a damning indictment of the state of Nigerian football and a stark reminder of the dangers that players, officials, and fans face in our stadiums.
The reports from Ibadan is alarming: the Ikorodu City team bus was damaged, their fans were injured, and the match referee was manhandled.
Persecondnews also reports that fans and officials of Ikorodu City FC were held hostage by 3SC fans since 7:30 pm when the game ended till about 9pm when they were eventually rescued by military personnel.
An Ikorodu City club official, who spoke exclusively to Persecondnews on condition of anonymity, said:”The police men on duty advised the team to stay in the dressing room till the situation is brought under control.
“It was a scary moment – our buses destroyed, we had to wait till soldiers had to escort us out of the stadium after over 90 minutes hostage in the dressing room.”
PSN recalls that the incident is not an isolated one as it reflects a deeper malaise that afflicts Nigerian football.
Fans noted that inadequate security arrangement, the absence of effective crowd control measures, and the failure to hold past perpetrators accountable have created an environment where violence thrives.
They called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) to take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that the nation’s stadiums are safe and secure for all.
The implications of this violence are far-reaching. It not only endangers the lives of players, officials, and fans but also undermines the integrity of the league and damages Nigeria’s reputation in the international football community, they said.
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