Once again, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) faced a major setback on Sunday when furious supporters of Kano Pillars Football Club launched an assault on the match officials and players of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
With Kano Pillars leading 1-0 as the game neared its conclusion, 3SC managed to level the score dramatically in the 94th minute through a goal by Adams Mustapha.
Immediately after the final whistle, chaos erupted as disgruntled home fans stormed the pitch, targeting both the referees and the visiting players in a violent outburst.
Video footage captured the pandemonium, showing fans breaching security barriers, hurling objects, and physically assaulting the officials-referee Mohammed Tuta and his assistants Bem Japhet, Shehu Isah, and Alfa Sadiq-who were left defenseless amid the onslaught.
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Reports indicate that several 3SC players sustained injuries during the melee, which was only quelled after security forces intervened, deploying tear gas to disperse the hostile crowd.
Although Kano Pillars’ General Manager, Ahmed Musa, publicly condemned the violent behavior and promised that those responsible would face disciplinary action, football fans and analysts alike are urging the league authorities to implement tougher measures. This incident is far from isolated, as Kano Pillars’ supporters have a history of attacking opposing teams and match officials when outcomes do not favor them.
Since 2019, the club has been penalized with fines exceeding N36 million due to repeated fan misconduct, including a notable episode in 2022 when supporters invaded the pitch during a fixture against Akwa United, resulting in a deduction of league points.
Sunday’s violent outbreak once again exposes the vulnerabilities in matchday security across Nigerian football, where inadequate crowd management and unruly fan behavior continue to hinder the development and reputation of the domestic league.
Watch the footage below:
