Fans invade pitch, attack Barau FC player after equaliser against Katsina United

Story by Okafor Vivian 

Tension erupted on Saturday during a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match between Katsina United and Barau FC, as violent scenes marred the game following an equaliser by the visitors.

The incident occurred shortly after Orji Kalu scored a 69th-minute goal to level the score at 1–1, sparking outrage among a section of Katsina United supporters. The angry fans invaded the pitch and assaulted Barau FC’s player Nana Abraham, inflicting a deep neck injury.

Barau FC confirmed the attack via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, revealing that the match was halted in the 70th minute as security personnel battled to restore order. Photos circulating online showed Abraham bleeding heavily while teammates and match officials tried to manage the situation.

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The game was temporarily suspended but later resumed once calm returned. As of press time, neither Katsina United nor the NPFL management had issued an official statement regarding the assault.

Saturday’s violence adds to growing concerns about fan behavior in the NPFL. It comes just weeks after supporters of Kano Pillars invaded the pitch during a fixture against Shooting Stars, an incident that led to a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point and three-goal deduction, and an indefinite stadium closure.

The latest disturbance in Katsina has further intensified calls for stricter crowd control and stronger enforcement of player safety measures in Nigerian football.

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