‘Unacceptable and Condemnable’: Shehu Sani Reacts to Kano Pillars Fans’ Attack

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has strongly condemned the violent actions of Kano Pillars supporters who invaded the pitch and attacked players, match officials, and staff of Shooting Stars Sports Club after Sunday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

The chaos erupted after Shooting Stars forward, Adams Mustapha, scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser to secure a 1–1 draw, cancelling out Mustapha Jibrin’s first-half goal for the hosts.

Live footage from Propel Sports captured angry Kano Pillars fans storming the pitch immediately after the final whistle, chasing referee Mohammed Tuta and his assistants — Bem Japhet, Shehu Isah, and Alfa Sadiq — who were forced to flee for safety.

Security personnel struggled to bring the situation under control and eventually fired tear gas to disperse the violent crowd. Reports indicated that several Shooting Stars players, including Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a, were physically assaulted during the incident.

Reacting on Monday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Senator Sani described the attack as “unacceptable and condemnable,” lamenting the growing insecurity and lack of safety measures in Nigerian football venues.

“The unruly behaviour of the Kano Pillars fans against the players of the Shooting Stars is unacceptable and condemnable,” he wrote. “One of the problems I’ve noticed when attending local league matches is the presence of thugs loitering around. Half of your attention is on the match and the other half on your safety and that of your vehicle.”

As of press time, the Nigeria Premier Football League management had yet to release an official statement regarding the violent incident.