The incident occurred in the dying moments of the match, moments after Shooting Stars scored a 94th-minute equaliser to level the score at 1-1. The late goal, which cancelled out an earlier Kano Pillars lead, instantly ignited a furious reaction from the home supporters.
Irate Kano Pillars fans stormed the pitch en masse, aggressively chasing the match referee and players from the visiting Shooting Stars team, prompting an immediate halt to the game. Match officials and players were forced to flee for their safety as the venue was engulfed in chaos.
The abandonment of the Matchday 8 fixture at 1-1 marks a serious stain on the Nigerian top-flight league and is the latest in a recurring pattern of crowd trouble at the Sani Abacha Stadium. The League Body is expected to take swift and severe disciplinary action against Kano Pillars, which could include heavy fines and banishment from their home ground.
The incident underscores the urgent and ongoing need for continuous fan sensitisation and improved security measures across NPFL venues to curb the rising trend of fan violence and pitch encroachment in Nigerian football.