A Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday ended in chaos after fans invaded the pitch following a dramatic late equalizer.
The tension began in the 94th minute when Shooting Stars leveled the score at 1-1. Moments later, angry Kano Pillars supporters broke through security barriers and stormed the field, attacking match officials and players from the visiting team.
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Referees led by Mohammed Tuta fled for safety as the situation spiraled out of control. Several Shooting Stars players, including Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a, reportedly sustained injuries during the attack.
Security personnel on duty struggled to restore order and were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the rioters. However, the unrest intensified as some fans hurled tear gas canisters back toward the officials and players.
The incident has since drawn widespread condemnation from football fans and stakeholders across the country. The Shooting Stars supporters’ group called for swift disciplinary action against the culprits, insisting that violence must have no place in Nigerian football.
Kano Pillars’ General Manager, Ahmed Musa, apologized to the Shooting Stars team, describing the events as “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable.” He pledged full cooperation with security agencies and league authorities to ensure that those responsible face appropriate sanctions.
The latest violence adds to a worrying pattern of crowd disturbances involving Kano Pillars in recent seasons. The club has faced several sanctions in the past, including heavy fines and points deductions, for similar breaches of conduct.
In response, the NPFL board released a preliminary statement condemning the attack and promising decisive action after reviewing official match reports and video footage.
