Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has expressed outrage over the violent scenes that erupted at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, following Sunday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
The chaos broke out moments after Shooting Stars striker, Adams Mustapha, scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser, earning the visitors a 1–1 draw and cancelling out an early goal by Pillars’ Mustapha Jibrin.
Angered by the result, some Kano Pillars supporters invaded the pitch, attacking players, referees, and club officials.
Live footage from Propel Sports captured the tense moment as match referee Mohammed Tuta and his assistants Bem Japhet, Shehu Isah, and Alfa Sadiq, were chased off the field by irate fans.
Security personnel were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd as players and officials fled for safety. Reports indicate that some Shooting Stars players, including Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a, sustained injuries during the attack.
Reacting via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Senator Sani condemned the incident, describing it as “unacceptable and condemnable.”
He lamented the growing insecurity at Nigerian stadiums, noting that the presence of thugs and poor crowd management discourage true football fans from attending league games.
“The unruly behaviour of the Kano Pillars fans against the players of Shooting Stars is unacceptable and condemnable,” Sani wrote.
“One of the problems I found out when one goes to our stadiums to watch local league matches is the problem of thugs loitering around. Half of your attention is on the match and the other half on your safety and that of your vehicle.”
As of press time, the Nigerian Premier Football League management has yet to issue an official statement regarding the violence.
The incident has once again raised concerns about crowd control, fan discipline, and the safety of players in Nigerian football.
