Panic and outrage gripped the Nigerian football community on Saturday after a shocking act of violence marred a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match between Katsina United and Barau Football Club, leaving a Barau player, Nana Abraham, with a deep cut to his throat.
The horrifying incident occurred shortly after Barau FC’s Orji Kalu netted a 69th-minute equaliser to level the score at 1–1, sparking fury among some Katsina United supporters who allegedly stormed the pitch in retaliation.
According to a post by Barau FC on its official X handle, the game was abruptly halted following the attack:
“70’ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player, Nana Abraham. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”
Just one minute earlier, the club had jubilantly celebrated the equalising goal, posting:
“69’ Goal Orji Kalu level the scores. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”
A disturbing photograph obtained by SaharaReporters shows Nana Abraham bleeding heavily from a neck wound as officials and teammates rushed to save his life while chaos engulfed the pitch.
Security operatives immediately intervened, forcing a temporary suspension of play as order was gradually restored. However, as of press time, neither the NPFL management nor Katsina United had issued an official statement addressing the violent incident.
The attack has reignited national outrage over the persistent wave of fan violence and lax security in Nigerian football stadiums, with growing calls for strict disciplinary action against the perpetrators and sanctions on the club.
This latest episode comes barely a month after a similar outbreak of violence in Kano, where enraged Kano Pillars fans invaded the Sani Abacha Stadium following a last-minute equaliser by Shooting Stars (3SC) of Ibadan in a Matchday 8 fixture.
That chaos forced security personnel to fire teargas to disperse the mob — prompting the NPFL to slam heavy sanctions on Kano Pillars, including a ₦9.5 million fine, deduction of three points and three goals, and the indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The punishment, contained in a document titled “FORM 16: Summary Jurisdiction Notice” and signed by Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, found the Kano-based club guilty of multiple breaches of league regulations.
Now, with the Katsina tragedy, the NPFL faces renewed pressure to prove that such barbaric acts of fan violence will no longer be tolerated in Nigerian football — as the league’s integrity and the players’ safety hang in the balance.
