5th March, 2015
Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) defending champions Kano Pillars were attacked on their way to honouring their opening match in Owerri, an official confirmed on Thursday.
NAN reports that Kano Pillars were to be guests of Heartland FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in a 2014/2015 NPFL week one fixture on Saturday.
Idris Malikawa, the team’s Media Officer who confirmed news of the incident to NAN on telephone, said some of the players were shot.
“Yes, it’s true that our team bus was attacked along Abaji road and some players were shot by a group of armed robbers this (Thursday) afternoon,” he said.
The official explained that the team was travelling in a 32-seater Coaster bus which had 25 people, including 18 players, alongside a four-man technical crew led by coach Okey Emordi.
He and the other members of the technical crew were in a separate vehicle.
“The gunmen opened fire on the team bus and Gambo Mohammed, Eneji Otekpa and a few others were shot.
“As I speak, we are at a hospital in Lokoja,” Malikawa said.
He however said there were no deaths recorded, adding that the affected players were all responding to treatment.
“Striker Mohammed had his arm seriously damaged from a gunshot, while Ekpai Ubong sustained injuries behind his head, but no death was recorded,” the club spokesman said.
Also, Isaac Loute, one of the players who travelled with the team, told NAN that a total of five players were affected.
He said the team bus was attacked by armed robbers and some of the players affected were receiving treatment at a Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja.
“We were attacked by armed robbers and they shot our players in the hand, while some were hit on the head.
“Mohammed, Otekpa , Ubong, Reuben Ogbonaya, who just joined Pillars from El-Kanemi Warriors, Ubong and then Adamu Murtala were all hit by bullets.
“It is indeed a sad moment for us all and right now we are at the hospital in Lokoja,” Loute said.
NAN reports that the 2014/2015 NPFL season is expected to kick off on Saturday.