What was meant to be an exciting Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) match turned into a nightmare on Sunday, April 6, as chaos erupted at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Following a goalless draw between Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City FC, frustrated home fans stormed the stadium premises, targeting the visiting team in a disturbing wave of violence.
According to eyewitness reports, angry Shooting Stars supporters surrounded the dressing room area, holding Ikorodu City players and officials hostage for nearly two hours. Tensions escalated as the fans reportedly vandalized Ikorodu City’s team bus and physically assaulted one of the club’s officials, who was left injured in the incident.
“The lights were turned off, and we had to rely on our phone flashlights,” a shaken Ikorodu City official revealed, describing the terrifying ordeal. Eventually, the team had to be escorted out of the stadium by military personnel to ensure their safety.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage and reignited serious concerns about safety, security, and crowd control in Nigerian football.
“This is not just unacceptable—it’s dangerous,” said a sports analyst on social media. “How do we expect the NPFL to grow or attract investors when players and officials can’t even feel safe?”
Fan violence isn’t new in Nigerian football, but the sheer intensity of Sunday’s events has brought fresh urgency to the conversation. Many are calling on the League Management Company (LMC), the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and stadium authorities to take decisive action—not just punishment after the fact, but preventive measures moving forward.
“This has to be a turning point,” one fan tweeted. “We can’t keep acting like this is normal. Clubs should face serious penalties if they can’t control their fans.”
For young football lovers and aspiring athletes, moments like this are disheartening. Stadiums are meant to be spaces of joy, celebration, and fierce—but respectful—competition. When matches end in fear rather than football, it hurts the league, the players, and the spirit of the game itself.
Ikorodu City FC has yet to release a full statement but has confirmed that all players and staff are now safe. The NPFL has also not issued an official response at the time of this report, but pressure is mounting from fans, sports journalists, and civic groups for immediate disciplinary action and long-term reforms.
As Nigerian football continues to fight for relevance and recognition on the global stage, ensuring the safety of teams, officials, and fans must become non-negotiable. Sunday’s incident at Lekan Salami Stadium is a clear wake-up call.
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