Hoodlums on Thursday descended on players, and staff of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Sunshine Stars, injuring several of them.  

“Suspected hoodlums attack Sunshine Stars team bus along Ore-Benin Expressway,” the Akure, Ondo State-based side tweeted on their X account. “Ball boy shot. Team manager others, seriously injured.”

The team’s Media Officer Michael Akintunde while giving details of the incident, said they were attacked on their way for an NPFL fixture with Bendel Insurance in neighbouring Edo State.

“It saddens our hearts to inform Nigerians, especially football lovers that our team was attacked a few minutes ago along the Ore-Benin Expressway to honour an elite league tie against Insurance of Benin, scheduled for this weekend,” Akintunde said in the wake of the incident.

“Our ball boy was shot in the horrible attack, and our team manager and other club officials including players are seriously injured. It took the intervention of officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) that helped rescue the injured officials and the shot individuals to a nearby hospital.”

But police authorities in the South-West state are yet to comment on the issue.