Violence marred Saturday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash between Katsina United and Barau FC as Barau’s midfielder, Nana Abraham, sustained a deep neck injury following an attack by enraged home fans.
The chaos erupted moments after Orji Kalu equalised for Barau FC in the 69th minute, leveling the game at 1–1. The goal sparked outrage among some Katsina United supporters, who stormed the pitch and assaulted Abraham.
Barau FC confirmed the attack on their official X handle, announcing:
“70′ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player, Nana Abraham. Katsina United | 1–1 | Barau FC.”
Images from the scene showed Abraham bleeding heavily as teammates and match officials rushed to his aid. Security operatives intervened to restore order, and after a brief suspension, the match resumed and ended 1–1.
Neither Katsina United nor the NPFL management had issued an official statement on the incident as of press time.
Saturday’s violence comes barely a month after a similar outbreak at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where angry fans attacked players and officials following Shooting Stars’ late equaliser against Kano Pillars. That incident earned Pillars a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point and three-goal deduction, and the closure of their home ground.
The latest attack in Katsina adds to growing concerns over player safety and poor crowd control in the Nigerian league, underscoring the urgent need for stricter security measures and stronger sanctions against violent supporters.
