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Tension erupted on Saturday during a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture between Katsina United and Barau Football Club, after a Barau FC player, Nana Abraham, was brutally attacked by enraged home supporters.
The violent incident occurred moments after Barau’s Orji Kalu netted a 69th-minute equaliser, bringing the scoreline to 1-1 — a development that appeared to infuriate sections of the Katsina United fans inside the stadium.
Eyewitnesses said chaos broke out almost immediately, with some supporters storming the pitch in anger. In the ensuing melee, Nana Abraham was reportedly struck and left with a deep gash on his neck, prompting immediate medical attention from officials and teammates.
Barau FC confirmed the attack on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, posting:
“70’ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player, Nana Abraham.
Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC
#MaliyaBoysTogetherForVictory #KatBar #NPFL26.”
Just a minute earlier, the club had celebrated Kalu’s equaliser with another update:“69’ Goal! Orji Kalu levels the score. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”
A disturbing photo obtained by SaharaReporters shows the injured player bleeding heavily from the neck as teammates and officials tried to contain the escalating chaos.The match, played at the Katsina Township Stadium, was briefly suspended as security personnel struggled to restore calm. At the time of filing this report, neither the NPFL management nor Katsina United had issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The attack has reignited growing concerns over fan violence and security lapses in Nigerian football stadiums. Stakeholders and fans alike are now calling for swift disciplinary action against the perpetrators and the club to prevent a repeat of such tragedy.
This latest incident comes barely a month after a similar outbreak of violence in Kano, during a Matchday 8 NPFL encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars (3SC) of Ibadan.
That match also ended 1-1 after 3SC scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser, prompting angry Kano Pillars supporters to invade the pitch, assaulting match officials and opposing players. Security forces had to fire teargas to disperse the crowd.
Following the incident, the NPFL slammed heavy sanctions on Kano Pillars, including a ₦9.5 million fine, deduction of three points and three goals, and an indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The disciplinary action was contained in a formal document titled “FORM 16: Summary Jurisdiction Notice”, dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer. The league found Kano Pillars guilty of multiple breaches of its frameworks and conduct rules.
As outrage builds, Nigerian football fans are once again demanding stronger security protocols and stricter penalties to curb what many describe as a “dangerous culture of impunity” in local football.
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