A football fan has stabbed Plateau United forward, Vincent Temitope in the neck on Sunday after their Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 33 defeat against Nasarawa United in Lafia.
Nasarawa United had won the nail-biting encounter 3-2 against their North Central neighbours before a video of the player being treated for a cut around his neck surfaced.
Vincent missed a penalty and also scored a goal during the encounter.
A Jos-based on-air personality with Jay FM, Rhairom Zamora, was the first to share the disturbing video, claiming that the attack was from the home fans.
“Disturbing scenes after the match in Lafia. Vincent Temitope was reportedly injured by Nasarawa United fans after the game.
“Absolutely unacceptable, player safety must be a priority. We await official statements from the clubs and the league,” she posted via X.
“Another video has surfaced, an eyewitness speaking in Hausa said Nasarawa United fans allegedly attempted to kill Vincent Temitope with a knife,” she said in another post.
Plateau United’s Director of Media Operations, Yaksat Maklek, also confirmed the incident. He said the attack directly responded to Temitope’s on-pitch brilliance.
Maklek added that the player was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafia for emergency treatment.
“He was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia where he was treated immediately and now he is fine. He is in stable condition,” he confirmed.
Vincent Temitope joined Plateau United last year and was named in the Super Eagles B training squad ahead of the forthcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) later this year.
The incident has triggered nationwide outrage and once again cast a spotlight on the recurring problem of fan violence in Nigerian football, especially at NPFL venues.
Meanhwile, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a Nasarawa United supporter who stabbed Plateau United player.
The suspect, whose name has not yet been made public, was taken into custody for his role in the bloody post-match attack that sent shockwaves through the Nigerian football community.
Confirming the arrest in a brief interview with SaharaReporters on Monday morning, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Police Command, Rahman Nansel, said: “The culprit was arrested, and he’s currently in custody for further investigation.”
