Shooting Stars Deny Holding Ikorodu City Hostage After NPFL Clash, Say Safety Measures Misinterpreted
Following Sunday’s goalless draw between Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, reports surfaced alleging that the visiting team and match officials were held hostage and that their team bus was vandalized by angry fans. However, Shooting Stars SC has strongly denied these claims, describing them as misleading and misinterpreted safety measures.
According to various eyewitness reports, Ikorodu City players and officials were reportedly held at the stadium for about two hours, with tensions running high outside the venue. Their bus was also said to have been vandalised by supporters of the home team, a claim that has sparked outrage among fans and followers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
In a statement released Monday, Shooting Stars clarified the events, stating that no one was held hostage, and that their decision to delay the visitors’ exit was solely based on security advice.
“We wish to clearly state, through this medium, that no players and officials were held hostage after Sunday’s match,” the club wrote.
“We actually needed to take such step as a safety measure for the two teams and match officials, after we got informed about the rowdy, unsafe and unconducive atmosphere outside.”
They further refuted claims of vandalism, maintaining that Ikorodu City’s bus was not damaged, and that the visitors were escorted safely by military operatives after the crowd situation was controlled.
💬 Opinion: Nigerian Football Must Prioritize Matchday Security—Not Excuses
While it’s commendable that Shooting Stars took steps to protect their guests, the very need for such action reflects poorly on the broader state of football security in Nigeria. Fans turning violent or creating tense atmospheres after a disappointing home result is, unfortunately, nothing new — but it should never be normalized.
Whether or not the bus was vandalized, or if Ikorodu City players felt threatened, the fact remains that NPFL matchday experiences need serious reform. No professional team should have to wait hours under armed guard just to leave a stadium safely.
Instead of damage control via statements, this should be a wake-up call for league administrators and club management to invest in crowd control strategies, fan education, and stricter sanctions for unruly supporters.
Football is meant to unite and inspire — not intimidate and endanger.
Until real changes are made, gestures like these will only be seen as band-aids on wounds that need proper healing.
