By Our Reporter
On Thursday, unidentified gunmen attacked the Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on the Benin-Ore Expressway.
It was gathered that the hoodlums shot at the bus conveying the team to Benin City, Edo State capital, where they were going to honour the Match Day 13 of the Nigeria Premier Football League against Bendel Insurance FC of Benin.
It was also learnt the team manager, Mr. Seun Betiku, and an official of the team whose identity had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report, were injured in the attack.
The Media Officer of the team, Mr. Michael Akintunde, confirmed the incident, in a statement.
He stated that some players and officials were injured in the attack.
Akintunde said, ” 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.
“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 Corp that helped rescue the injured officials and the shot individuals to a nearby hospital. ”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, however, said the matter was not reported at the police station in the state.
“When I heard about the incident, I called the DPP of the Ore Division and he told me no incident of such was reported at the station. Maybe it didn’t happen in Ondo State,” he said.