Five players were injured Thursday afternoon when armed robbers attacked reigning Nigerian Premier League Champions, Kano Pillars along the Abaji-Lokoja road in Kogi State.
The injured have been identified as Gambo Muhammed, Eneji Otekpa, Adamu Murtala, Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai.
Okey Emordi’s men had eliminated Al-Malakia in their 2015 Caf Champions League preliminary round and were travelling for their Nigeria Premier League opener against Heartland at the Dan Anyiam Stadium , in Owerri on Saturday.
Masu Gida were 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 in a Peugeot car.
Team’s media officer Idris Malikawa informed Goal that Pillars cheated death as the gunmen shot intermittently with no place for the team to hide.
“Five of our players are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja and are responding to treatment as we were attacked by robbers around 1.15 pm,” Malikawa said.
Striker Gambo had his arm seriously damaged from a gun shot while Ekpai sustained injuries behind their head but no death was recorded.
Heartland FC of Owerri Thursday expressed heartfelt sympathy with Kano Pillars over unfortunate incident.
General Manager, Prince Okechukwu Ibe, said the news of the unfortunate incident jolted every member of Heartland as they were expecting Kano Pillars to be in Owerri for their match.
While describing the sad incident as a dangerous threat to football in Nigeria, Ibe said it was a fate that could befall any club travelling for matches across the country.
The Heartland boss also prayed for the quick recovery of all those injured in the attack.
“May God help all the injured to recover and may such never happen again to any team in Nigeria,” he said.
The League Management Company (LMC) has also expressed shock at the news of the armed robbery attack on Kano Pillars Football Club contingent along the Abuja-Lokoja Road and consequently ordered an indefinite postponement of their match against Heartland FC.
Chief Operating Officer of LMC, Salihu Abubakar, said the body had been in touch with officials of Kano Pillars, monitoring the progress of the injured players and doing everything possible to stabilise the team.
He said all other fixtures of the Glo Premier League Match Day 1 will hold as scheduled but that the star match will now be a double-header in Port Harcourt between Dolphins FC and Kwara United and between Sharks and Sunshine Stars.
“Whilst we sympathise with the Club and strongly condemn this crime, Clubs are advised that the Match Day 1 fixtures will hold as scheduled except the Matches in Port Harcourt which will now serve as a double-header and will be televised live on Saturday,” Abubakar said.
