Emir Of Ilorin's Cup: Victorious Police Machine Beat Up Organisers, Journalists Over Prize Money
The finals of the 2023 Emir of Ilorin's Cup played over the weekend ended in fracas after players of the victorious team, Police Machine, went on rampage as they attacked journalists and competition organisers over prize money.
The Chairman of Ilorin West Football Association and chairman of the competition's organizing committee, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Owolabi Agbaji Wopa, also was caught up in the melee.
The Police team had defeated Musty FC 1-0 to lift the trophy while the third place match between Okaa Sports FC and Adezzy FC ended 1-0 in favour of the former.
However, trouble started shortly after the presentation of trophies and medals.
An eye witness said “While he was granting a press interview, the police team players accosted Wopa outside the main bowl of the Ilorin Township Stadium requesting for their money.
“But he (Wopa) told them that such money requires processing and some of their handlers were yet to reconcile accounts to enable them make payments.”
It is said the angry Policemen refused to be pacified as they insisted on getting their prize money at that moment.
“They assaulted him physically while others sustained injuries. They smashed phones, sunglasses and other belongings,” another eye-witness added.
Wopa lamented over the unfortunate incident and said “the players did not show self-control and discipline Nigerian Police is known for.”
In his reaction, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, said he was very upset with the action of the policemen.
He said a full investigation into the ugly incident will be carried out very soon.
Olaiya stated that efforts are ongoing towards a meeting and possible resolution of the matter with the competition's organising committee and the physically assaulted sports journalists
He also pleaded that the incident should not put the existing cordial relationship between the command and the press in the state in jeopardy”.
Daily Trust gathered reliably that the organisers had planned to give out N1m, N750,000 and N500,000 cash prize for the first, second and third place teams respectively.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Dankaka Radio SBS Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Umaru Saro Hamza Usman Risikat Lawal Oyelere Oyinloye Tunji Ajanaku Folorunsho Alao Ilorin Curfew Olawuyi Sayomi Ajibola Ademola Julius Katibi Ibraheem Adeola Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf Kwara State Television Yaman Kwara Central IPSAS Musa Yeketi Saraki Ilorin Anchor Men And Women Lanre Jimoh Goodluck Jonathan Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq Adedeji Onimago Ibrahim Agboola Gambari Bolakale Ayo Peculiar Allowance Ibrahim Oloriegbe Olota Of Odo-Owa Isiaka Abdulrazak Village Alive Development Association Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria Oba Abdulrahim 20 Billion Bond Rafiu Ibrahim Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita Marufat Oladosu Elerin Of Erin-Ile Opolo Global Innovation Limited Women Radio Olomu Muhammadu Buhari IYA ALFA NLA Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Segun Abifarin Bayer AG Trader Moni Ayodele Shittu Mahmud Ayinla Giwa Abdulwahab Ololele General Hospital Bolakale Kawu Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Jimoh Bashir Ali Ahmad Adesina Simon Sodiya Nupe Babaita Shururat Olatinwo Usman Rifun Abiodun Oyedepo Abubakar Usman Jos Fatai Garuba Labaka CT Ayeni Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs Kolawole Akande Abdulrasheed Akogun CCEPE Agbarigidoma Alaaya Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists Elerin Of Adanla Irese

