Reactions have continued to trail the actions of Shooting Stars’ supporters who held the players, and officials of Ikorodu City hostage for two hours.
The NPFL clash between both sides ended 0-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday evening.
Immediately after the match, the home fans, who were disappointed that Shooting Stars could not earn the maximum points, started throwing objects into the pitch.
They took their angry reactions further by refusing to allow the Ikorodu City contingent to leave the stadium. It took the intervention of the Police to stop the fans from gaining access to the dressing room.
The visitors team bus was also vandalised, and some of their fans sustained injuries.
In a video seen by THE WHISTLER, Ikorodu City players were stranded in darkness in the dressing room as the stadium officials allegedly cut off power supply with the players in shock, and disbelief.
An official of the club narrated the horrific experience in the video.
He said, “I have heard similar stories before in the NPFL, but this is my first time experiencing it.
“We are being held hostage right here at the Lekan Salami Stadium after Ikorodu City forced Shooting Stars into a goalless draw. We are held hostage in the dressing room. The light has been switched off. See the players using their phones. We cannot go out – both the players and the officials. The team bus has been vandalised.”
There are also claims that the referee that officiated the encounter was manhandled by Shooting Stars supporters.
It took the intervention of the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security, who provided a military escort before Ikorodu City players, and officials were able to leave the stadium two hours after the match ended.
Football enthusiasts have taken to social media to blast Shooting Stars for the maltreating Ikorodu City players, and officials.
Ikorodu City director Sulaimon Adebayo also known as Pooja confirmed the incident in a post on X.
He wrote on X, “Soldiers rescued Ikorodu City players and officials from Ibadan after the draw with Shooting Stars. Thank God for safety. It was hell.”
NPFL enthusiast Mike The Pundit is expecting the Nigeria Premier Football League to sanction Shooting Stars
He wrote on X, “I fully expect Shooting Stars’ sanction to be ready on or before Thursday, 4PM.”
Alloy Chukwuemeka was disappointed with the actions of Shooting Stars supporters.
He wrote on Facebook, “We have grown beyond this. This is taking the league backward.”
Tao Ibadan urged the NPFL to sanction Shooting Stars, saying no justification to the barbaric act from the supporters.
He wrote on Facebook, There is no justification for what Shooting Stars fans have done and they should be punished accordingly. The NPFL should be blamed too because this happens every season. It was Kano Pillars last season
“If proper security measures are not put in place, this will continue to happen. The same thing that occurred yesterday almost happened in the first leg against Ikorodu City but due to the quick preventive measures, the fight between fans wasn’t this tense.
“NPFL should take proper action on what happened and give out stern warning because of future occurrences, while looking at themselves also if they are doing the right thing as an association or they’re just using money for PR only.”
Akin Fapohunda called for maximum protection for match officials, while urging the NPFL to sanction Shooting Stars.
He wrote on Facebook, This is terribly bad and Shooting Stars should be heavily sanctioned – to serve as a deterrent.In addition, there should be maximum protection for match officials, especially females, across the league. This is barbaric and unacceptable.”
The Nigeria Premier Football League is expected to sanction Shooting Stars, the verdict is expected 48 hours after the match.
Ikorodu City earned their first point in an away game in the South West derby. They earned four points against Shooting Stars in two matches after winning the first leg in Lagos.
