NFF, Ondo Govt, SWAN Condemn Gunmen Attack on Sunshine Stars Players, Officials

Fidelis David in Akure

The Nigeria Football Federation has decried the recent spate of robbery attacks on players and officials of football clubs travelling by road in the country to honour matches in the domestic Leagues, while appealing to security agents to devise further means of protecting road users in the land.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi on yesterday said the federation is disturbed by the trend, which has seen players and officials of Nigeria National League club, FC One Rocket and NPFL side Sunshine Stars attacked with persons injured and valuables lost over the past few days.

“The NFF is seriously disturbed and disillusioned by this unwarranted trend. First, it was FC One Rocket of Abat, Akwa Ibom State that was attacked. Their players and officials lost a variety of valuables in the attack in Ihiala, Anambra State while on their way from an NNL match against Ikorodu City in Lagos.

“Only on Thursday, 7th December, 2023, players and officials of Sunshine Stars of Akure were attacked on the Ore-Benin Road by armed robbers, with the ball boy shot. This is worrisome and we are passionately appealing to security personnel to painstakingly work out new ways and methods of ensuring safety and security of lives and properties on our roads.”

Sanusi empathised with the players, coaches and Management of the two Clubs on the unfortunate incident, and urged them not to allow the incidents to dampen their morale or negatively affect their challenge for titles in the ongoing season.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Football fraternity, we convey our sympathies to the two teams on the unfortunate attacks and trust that they will not be psychologically dampened in their quest for honours this football season.”

In the same vein, Ondo State Government and the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Friday condemned the attack on the players and Officials of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.

THISDAY reported that they were on Thursday attacked along Benin-Ore way by gunmen on their way to Benin and the ball boy to the team got shot while the Team Manager and some team management were injured and were taken to nearby hospital.

However, a statement by Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, in Akure said he had been monitoring events since the incident, especially the gunshot victims.

While expressing appreciation to God that no life was lost in the attack, Ologunloluwa said the state government condemns the attack on innocent citizens who were going about their businesses and urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

“We want to use this opportunity to thank God that no life was lost in the incident and that those who sustained gun shot injuries are safe and are now in Benin despite the incident.

“We also appreciate Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for helping to take our injured ball boy and others to a medical facility, thereby helping in saving his life and others. The state government condemns in strong terms the attack on the team, hence we call on security agencies to help fish out perpetrators of such inhumane attack on our players that have been bringing joy to people of the state.

”I urge teeming supporters and followers of Sunshine Stars and Nigerians to continue praying for all those who sustained injuries in the attack and rest assured that the state government is on top of the situation,” he said.

Ologunloluwa later appreciated the teeming support and for the show of love by members of the Nigeria football family, stakeholders, followers, and supporters of the team at this trying time.

In the same vein, the Executive and Members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Ondo State Chapter expressed sadness and sympathized with the entire crew of Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure

The Association in a statement signed by the Chairman, Segun Giwa and Secretary, Joseph Adesuyan described the incident as tragic and barbaric.

While SWAN called on security agencies to swing into action and arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice, the body wishes the injured officials and players a speedy recovery.