Violence erupts in Kano as Pillars fans attack referees, players

There was chaos at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday evening after angry Kano Pillars supporters invaded the pitch and attacked match officials, players, and staff of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) following a late equaliser in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash.

The tense encounter, which ended in a 1–1 draw, took a violent turn moments after the final whistle. What began as an exciting fixture between two of Nigeria’s most popular clubs quickly spiralled into mayhem as fans vented their frustration over the game’s outcome.

Video footage sighted by our correspondent from the live broadcast by Propel Sports captured the shocking scenes, showing enraged supporters charging onto the pitch and confronting the officiating crew led by referee Mohammed Tuta. His assistants Bem Japhet, Shehu Isah, and Alfa Sadiq were also reportedly assaulted in the chaos.

The officials were forced to flee for safety as chaos spread across the pitch.

The violence began after Shooting Stars forward Adams Mustapha struck a 94th-minute equaliser to cancel out Mustapha Jibrin’s early opener for the hosts.

Enraged by the late goal and referee calls during the game, home supporters breached security barriers and charged towards the match officials and visiting players.

Several Shooting Stars players, including Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a, were reportedly assaulted in the ensuing melee.

Security operatives in neon vests struggled to contain the situation and resorted to firing tear gas to disperse the angry crowd.

The deployment of tear gas, however, intensified the disorder as some fans hurled the canisters back towards the officials and players while pandemonium swept through the stadium.

In videos shared on social media by 3SC Fans TV, the visiting supporters condemned the attack and called for urgent disciplinary action.

“This isn’t the kind of behaviour we should be spreading,” they posted.

“Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a were also hit by fans in the chaos that followed the final whistle. Violence has no place in this beautiful game. Fans can and must do better.”

In another statement, the fan group added, “Despite a spirited performance that earned a point in Kano, the aftermath was marred by unacceptable scenes, as our players were attacked by Kano Pillars fans for reasons best known to them. This kind of behaviour has no place in football. While we are not the league body, we strongly hope justice is served. This is not good for the image of the NPFL. Let’s protect the game.”

The violent episode adds to a growing list of disciplinary issues involving Kano Pillars and their supporters.

The club, one of Nigeria’s most decorated sides, has repeatedly been sanctioned for crowd trouble.

Since 2019, they have been fined over N36m for various incidents of fan misconduct. These include multiple penalties in 2022 when supporters invaded the pitch during a match against Akwa United, prompting a points deduction.

The recurrence of such violent outbreaks has raised serious questions about safety and crowd management in the NPFL.

Sunday’s scenes once again highlight the fragile nature of matchday security in Nigeria, where poor crowd control and fan indiscipline continue to undermine the progress of the domestic league.

The NPFL board issued a preliminary statement on the incident signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi. The league said it had “noted with concern the disturbing reports and viral video clips” from the fixture and condemned “in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans.”

The NPFL added that the matter was being treated with utmost seriousness and assured that appropriate actions would follow upon review of the official match reports and full video evidence.