By Olaitan Ibrahim
Players and officials of Ikorodu City Football Club were held hostage by irate Shooting Stars fans on Sunday following their goalless draw in the Southwest derby at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Multiple reports also said the Ikorodu City team bus was damaged and some of their travelling fans sustained injuries when 3SC fans wreaked havoc at the end of the Nigeria Premier League match-day 32 game.
Veteran broadcaster, Charles Anazodo,, also reported that the match referee was manhandled.
“Fans and officials of Ikorodu City FC have been held hostage by 3SC fans since 7:30 pm when the game ended. Reports from Ibadan say the referee was manhandled by irate fans, and the team bus of the away team was destroyed.
“The team is currently huddled together in the dressing room alongside the match officials and all the lights in the facility, switched off,” Anazodo posted via X.
The team was however rescued by military escort provided by an Oyo State Government official after being held for almost 90 minutes in the dressing room.
“After spending precisely 80 minutes in the dressing room without lights, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security has provided a military escort for the away team to exit the stadium,” another NPFL enthusiast, Mike The Pundit, reported.
One of Ikorodu City’s club directors, Suleiman Adebayo, also known as Pooja, confirmed that the team had left the stadium after the ordeal.
“Soldiers rescued Ikorodu City players and officials from Ibadan after the draw with Shooting Stars.
“Thank God for safety. It was hell,” he said.
Sunday’s goalless draw put another dent on Shooting Stars’ continental ambitions this season, leaving them fourth in the league with 48 points after 32 matches while Ikorodu City are sixth with 46 points.