The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denounced the recent wave of robbery attacks on players and officials of football clubs traveling by road in the nation to honor matches in the domestic Leagues and has appealed to security agents to come up with new ways to protect road users in the nation.

Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the general secretary of the NFF, stated on Friday that the Federation is concerned about the recent pattern of attacks involving players and officials from the Nigeria National League teams FC One Rocket and Sunshine Stars, which have left people hurt and goods missing.

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“The NFF is seriously disturbed and disillusioned by this unwarranted trend. First, it was FC One Rocket of Abat, Akwa Ibom State that was attacked.

“Their players and officials lost a variety of valuables in the attack in Ihiala, Anambra State while on their way from an NNL match against Ikorodu City in Lagos.

“Only on Thursday, 7th December 2023, players and officials of Sunshine Stars of Akure were attacked on the Ore-Benin Road by armed robbers, with the ball boy shot.

“This is worrisome and we are passionately appealing to security personnel to painstakingly work out new ways and methods of ensuring safety and security of lives and properties on our roads.”

Sanusi expressed sympathy to the players, coaches, and management of the two clubs for the regrettable event and asked them not to let it break their spirits or interfere with their chances of winning the current season.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Football fraternity, we convey our sympathies to the two teams on the unfortunate attacks and trust that they will not be psychologically dampened in their quest for honors this football season.”