By Adeolu Johnson
A player of Rangers International Football Club, Daniel Onyia, was fatally injured on the head by one of the big stones throw by pebble throwing fans who laid an ambush for the team along Zaria Road, in front of Jos International Stadium as they made their way back to their hotel after a goalless draw in a match day 11, NPFL fixture.
The Toyota Coaster bus conveying the players had four of its side wind shields shattered with some other players getting hit by the large pebbles thrown by the fans who started showing their resentments as soon as the referee blew the final whistle to end the match.
As the players and official buses made to leave the stadium, there were loud bangs on the bodies of the buses as the drivers made a quick dash towards the exit gate.
On its way to where the team was lodged after making a turn at the Farringada round-about, the fans that laid an ambush in front of the stadium, pelted the players’ bus with large stones with one of them catching the young midfielder on the face and beside the left eye.
The bus had to make an emergency stop at the Alherri area near St. Murumba College, Jos, where the team medical personnel administered treatment on the injured player.
Plateau State Football Association chairman, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande and other officials of the football house visited the scene to assess the situation and commiserate with the team over the attack.
In a swift response to the violent attack, the management of Rangers International F.C ably led by Barr. Amobi Ezeaku, has. submitted a strong petition to the league organisers, NPFL over the incidence demanding a compensation of Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000.00) to take care of medical expenses on the injured players and fix the damages inflicted on the team buses.
The petition sites the inability of Plateau United to provide adequate security before, during and especially, after the match for the visiting team, Rangers, as major reason for the violent incident that brought bodily harm and psychological trauma to players and officials of Rangers as well as destruction of the team bus which negates the true spirit of what the game of football preaches thereby bringing the game to disrepute.
The club called for immediate sanction to be meted out to Plateau United to serve as a deterrent to other clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League.