NPFL match turns violent as Katsina fans slit Barau FC player’s throat
GH News Media

A Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture between Katsina United and Barau FC descended into violence on Saturday after a Barau FC player, Nana Abraham, was attacked by angry supporters of the home side.
The incident occurred moments after Orji Kalu scored a 69th-minute equaliser to bring Barau FC level at 1-1, a goal that appeared to provoke outrage among a section of Katsina United fans.
In the chaos that followed, Nana Abraham was reportedly assaulted and sustained a deep cut to his neck, prompting an immediate halt to the match.
Barau FC confirmed the situation on its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, posting:
“70’ The match is temporarily halted following an attack on Barau FC player Nana Abraham. Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC
#MaliyaBoysTogetherForVictory #KatBar #NPFL26”
Just a minute earlier, the club had celebrated the equalising goal:
“69’ Goal! Orji Kalu levels the scores.
Katsina United | 1-1 | Barau FC.”
Images from the scene show teammates and officials rushing to assist the injured player as match security struggled to contain the unrest inside the stadium. The referee suspended play while law enforcement and stadium stewards worked to restore order.
As of the time of reporting, neither the NPFL board nor Katsina United had issued an official statement regarding the attack.
The incident has intensified ongoing concerns about fan violence, inadequate stadium security, and the safety of players in Nigerian football. Football stakeholders and supporters have since called for strict sanctions and improved crowd control measures to prevent similar occurrences in the league.


