The Nigeria Premier Football League descended into absolute mayhem on Sunday as Shooting Stars (3SC) fans held players and officials of Ikorodu City hostage after a tense goalless Southwest derby at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
What should have been a routine league encounter ended in near-tragedy. Following the 0-0 draw that dented 3SC’s continental dreams, home fans reportedly attacked the visiting team, vandalized the Ikorodu City bus, and even manhandled the match referee.
Multiple eyewitness reports described the chaos as “hellish”, with Ikorodu City’s players, coaching crew, and match officials trapped inside the dressing room for nearly 90 minutes in complete darkness after the stadium lights were allegedly turned off.
Veteran Broadcaster Raises the Alarm
Veteran sports broadcaster Charles Anazodo broke the news on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that since 7:30 PM, the team had been held hostage:
“Fans and officials of Ikorodu City FC have been held hostage by 3SC fans since 7:30 pm… the referee was manhandled, the away team’s bus destroyed, and the lights switched off at the facility.”
Oyo State Official Intervenes
As the situation escalated, it took the intervention of a Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security to restore order. With military escort, the Ikorodu City contingent was finally evacuated from the stadium after enduring nearly an hour and a half of fear and uncertainty.
Prominent NPFL analyst Mike the Pundit reported:
“After 80 minutes in the dressing room without light, a security escort was provided for the team to exit safely.”
Pooja Confirms Escape: “It Was Hell”
Ikorodu City director and media personality Suleiman Adebayo a.k.a. Pooja confirmed their safe escape, posting:
“Soldiers rescued Ikorodu City players and officials from Ibadan after the draw with Shooting Stars. Thank God for safety. It was hell.”
Implications for NPFL and 3SC
The shocking incident casts another dark shadow on the NPFL’s crowd control challenges. While 3SC sits 4th on the table with 48 points — just outside the continental slots — this off-field debacle could lead to sanctions, point deductions, or stadium bans if the League Management Company (LMC) brings the hammer down.
Ikorodu City, now 6th with 46 points, earned the draw but paid a terrifying price for it.
NPFL 2025 Is Delivering Football and Fire
From dramatic late goals to fans turning rogue, this NPFL season has had it all. But this latest incident in Ibadan pushes the league into urgent territory. The question now is: Will the league act fast and decisively? Or will this go down as just another weekend of chaos in Nigerian football?
🔥 FULL-TIME DRAMA RECAP:
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3SC 0-0 Ikorodu City – But the real drama came after the whistle.
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Ikorodu team bus damaged, players trapped in darkness
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Match referee attacked
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Rescued by soldiers after 80 minutes of terror
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Potential LMC sanctions looming for 3SC
