Following a pitch invasion at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday that injured Vincent Temitope, a player for Plateau United, the Nigeria Police Force claimed that a Nasarawa United supporter had been arrested.
“The person has been placed under arrest and is presently being investigated further,” Nasarawa State Police Command spokesperson DSP Rahman Nansel told reporters in a statement on Monday.
After a fiercely contested game in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), in which Nasarawa United prevailed 3-2, this alarming incident had place.
Tensions increased after Temitope scored a goal and missed a penalty, prompting some Nasarawa supporters to vent their annoyance at him and blame him for the game’s seeming change in momentum.
Because there were only 20 police officers on duty to oversee a crowd of thousands, witnesses expressed grave worries about the stadium’s security. The atmosphere that permitted fans to rush the field after the final whistle was facilitated by the absence of appropriate security measures.
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One spectator characterized the game as stressful, describing how Plateau United officials swiftly removed their players from the field, but things quickly got out of control as fans flooded the field, causing mayhem.
After being stabbed in the neck during the invasion, Temitope was taken right away to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafia and given emergency care. The player is reportedly in stable condition and responding well to therapy, according to a later report from Yaksat Maklek, Director of Media Operations at Plateau United.
Important conversations about safety and security protocols at Nigerian football stadiums have been rekindled by this tragedy, underscoring the necessity for clubs and local government agencies to act pro-actively to protect the health and safety of players, officials, and supporters.
It should be noted that this incident happened soon after the NPFL declared that supporters of Nasarawa United were no longer prohibited from attending because of a violent past. In exchange for the suspension being lifted, the club was expected to improve security and encourage proper fan conduct during games.
