NPFL: Barau FC player suffers neck injury after fan attack in Katsina

Tension erupted on Saturday during a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture between Katsina United and Barau FC, after Barau’s player, Nana Abraham, was attacked and left with a deep cut on his neck when angry fans invaded the pitch.

The incident occurred moments after Barau FC’s Orji Kalu scored in the 69th minute to level the match at 1–1, a goal that appeared to infuriate some Katsina United supporters.

Barau FC confirmed the assault in a post on their official X handle, writing:

“70′ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player, Nana Abraham. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”

Just a minute earlier, the club had announced the equaliser, celebrating Kalu’s strike:

“69′ Goal! Orji Kalu levels the scores. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”

Images from the scene showed Abraham bleeding from a neck wound as teammates and match officials rushed to assist him. Security operatives quickly intervened to restore order, and after a brief suspension, the game resumed and ended in a 1–1 draw.

As of press time, neither Katsina United nor the NPFL management had issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Saturday’s attack comes barely a month after a similar outbreak of violence at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, when Shooting Stars (3SC) grabbed a late equaliser against Kano Pillars in a Matchday 8 fixture.

Furious fans stormed the pitch, assaulting players, referees, and officials, forcing security agents to fire teargas to disperse the crowd.

That incident led to the NPFL imposing severe sanctions on Kano Pillars, including a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, a three-goal deduction, and the indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The penalties were contained in a document titled “FORM 16: Summary Jurisdiction Notice”, dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Davidson Owumi, the league’s Chief Operating Officer.

The Katsina violence is the latest in a worrying trend of crowd disturbances in the Nigerian top flight, raising fresh concerns about player safety and stadium security.