Eight-time Nigerian champions Enyimba were the victims of an armed attack on their team bus as they returned home following Thursday’s NPFL victory over Adamawa United.
No players were seriously injured in the attack, as the bus sped off before the assailants could gain access, but some of the travelling party sustained injuries.
The People’s Elephant were making the 830km journey back to Aba following their 2-0 victory in Gombe in the 25th matchday of the domestic league, which has now been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The attack took place at approximately 19:45 local time in Okigwe, Imo State, along the Enugu-Okigwe-Umuahia Expressway.
It was the second time in four years that Enyimba FC had been attacked by robbers.
In 2016, they were attacked while traveling to Kaduna to honour the Super Four game.
In late November, the team bus of Ifeanyi Ubah, another Nigerian team, was also attacked by armed robbers, while Enyimba themselves were the victims of a similar incident in Kogi State in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has cautioned Nigerian clubs to avoid night travel due to frequent attacks by armed robbers.
Dikko said that the issue of players risking their life to honour league matches was not permitted by the LMC.
He, however, sympathized with players and officials of the Peoples Elephants saying that more efforts would be needed to safeguard the life of players while on official league assignments.
“I have not been officially briefed on the robbery attack on Enyimba players and officials,” Dikko said.
“But one thing Nigeria clubs have to understand is that they should stop risking the life of their players through night journey.
“The rules are clear on the LMC regulations. I don’t know why it is not followed. Although, I heard the team was close to their base when the robbery attack happened. But this does not remove the fact that teams travelling at night are not acceptable by the LMC.
“Also, over the years the LMC has told clubs to sign deals with airline companies to fly their players to league venues. Some clubs in Nigeria like Akwa United have keyed into this initiative,” Dikko stated.
