Rivers United endured a tense evening in Ilorin after a 1-1 draw with Kwara United in their Nigeria Premier Football League clash was overshadowed by crowd violence that left the visiting team stranded inside the stadium.
The drama unfolded in stoppage time when the Rivers United forward David Sholumade struck three minutes into additional time to cancel out Mohammed Shamsudeen’s 32nd-minute opener for Kwara United.
Rivers United Held After Late Equaliser at Kwara United
Moments after the final whistle, tempers flared inside the stadium. Eyewitnesses said sections of the home supporters confronted match officials, disputing the build-up to the equaliser.
Some fans claimed Kwara United goalkeeper Suraju Ayeleso had been fouled before the goal.
Protests quickly escalated. Chairs and bottles were reportedly thrown as security personnel struggled to restore order. Match officials were forced to seek protection amid the unrest.
Kpalukwu Assaulted as Stadium Exit Blocked
The situation worsened when Rivers United General Manager Okey Kpalukwu was attacked during the chaos. Images circulating online showed him with visible facial injuries following the incident.
Sources confirmed that supporters blocked the main exit of the stadium for more than 30 minutes after the match.
Rivers United players, officials and match referees were effectively held inside the facility as tensions remained high.
The confrontation has renewed concerns about crowd control and stadium security in the NPFL.
At the time of filing this report, league organisers and security authorities had not issued an official statement.
As investigations are expected to follow, attention will focus on disciplinary measures and the enforcement of league regulations to prevent similar incidents.