Tension flared on Saturday during a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter between Katsina United and Barau Football Club, after a shocking attack on Barau FC player Nana Abraham left him with a neck injury.
The incident erupted shortly after Barau’s Orji Kalu scored in the 69th minute to bring the game level at 1–1 — a goal that appeared to infuriate some Katsina United supporters inside the stadium.
Moments later, chaos erupted when some fans started throwing objects toward the Barau FC bench, hitting player Nana Abraham and leaving him with a neck injury, causing the match to be temporarily halted.
Barau FC confirmed the ugly scene in a statement posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle: “70′ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player, Nana Abraham. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”
Disturbing images from the stadium showed Abraham bleeding from a neck wound as medical staff and teammates rushed to his aid. Security operatives quickly intervened to disperse the crowd and restore order on the pitch.
Despite the tension and emotional scenes, the game eventually resumed and concluded in a 1–1 draw after regulation time.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about fan violence and player safety in Nigerian football, prompting calls for stronger security measures and stricter penalties for offenders.
