The Nigeria National League (NNL) Match Day 4 fixture between Jigawa Golden Stars and Mighty Jets International FC in Katsina was overshadowed by allegations of violence, which marred the visitors’ 1-0 victory on Saturday.
According to a statement released on Mighty Jets International FC’s official social media pages, the team’s cameraman, Attahiru Babayo, was attacked by home supporters, resulting in physical harm and the destruction of his camera. The post read, “Mighty Jets Media man beaten in Katsina, Camera destroyed. Our team was also denied access to the dressing room at the end of the first 45 minutes.”
In a further media release, Mighty Jets highlighted the resilience and determination shown by their players, which ultimately secured their first win of the season despite the hostile environment. The statement noted, “Despite the challenges posed by the home team’s supporters, Mighty Jets showed resilience and determination to claim all three points. However, the victory was marred by an unfortunate incident involving the team’s cameraman, Attahiru Babayo, who was attacked by Jigawa Golden Stars supporters and the team’s camera damaged as a result.”
On the pitch, Mighty Jets secured a crucial 1-0 win, with Safiyanu Abubakar scoring the only goal of the match. Abubakar was a last-minute inclusion in the starting lineup, replacing Odafe Emmanuel, who was injured during the warm-up. The victory represents a significant milestone for Mighty Jets, who had drawn their first two games of the season—1-1 against Barau FC and 0-0 against Wikki Tourists.
This incident raises concerns about security and fan behavior at NNL matches. The league authorities may need to investigate the reported violence and implement measures to ensure the safety of players, staff, and media personnel in future fixtures.
Mighty Jets’ win in Katsina is a key result in their campaign, but the circumstances surrounding the match have sparked a broader discussion on the need for stricter security protocols in Nigerian football.
