The bus carrying Kano Pillars FC to a Nigeria Professional
Football League away fixture against Heartland FC came under fire on Thursday
afternoon.
The 18-man squad was headed to Owerri for the week 1 fixture
of the 2014/15 season when it was attacked at Abaji, according to technical
adviser of the club Felix Okey Emordi.
The five players injured during the attack are Super Eagles
striker Gambo Muhammed, former Dream Team star Eneji Otekpa, defensive trojan
Adamu Murtala, ex Elkanemi Warriors defender Reuben Ogbonnaya and wing wizard
Ubong Ekpai.
“We ran into them and immediately they opened fire. One of
them opened the door and forced it open.They then shot the boys, of which five
were injured,” Emordi said.
“We thank Almighty God for there was no life lost, because
it could have been lost. Immediately after the men of the underworld pulled the
trigger we ran into the bush and we started coming to the hospital.”
SL10 reporter Abayomi Ademetan, at the Federal Medical
Centre Lokoja where the injured players
were taken to, learnt that the armed robbers collected ransoms from players of
the CAF Champions League campaigners.
“As they were shooting, they were asking for money and
valuables. The boys co-operated with them and ran for their dear lives. I still
thank God for sparing the lives of the players,” coach Emordi continued.
In the past, teams travelling on the road to prosecute
league matches have been victims of the men of the underworld.
“It’s a common phenomenon in the country. I’m not condemning
the efforts of our law enforcement officers. They are trying their best. They
need to do more to fish out the criminals.”
SL10 reports that Gambo Mohammed was the most affected of
the injured players as he was groaning in pains and might be out of action for
a long time.
Eneji Otekpa, Adamu Murtala, Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong
Ekpai should be back to action in a couple of weeks.
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