Nasarawa United Fan Jailed for Attacking Plateau United Player
A Nasarawa United supporter, Bashir Bala, has been sentenced to three months in prison by a Chief Magistrate Court in Lafia. He also has the option to pay a fine instead of serving the jail term. This follows his attack on Vincent Temitope, a player for Plateau United, on 17 April 2025.
The incident happened after the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match where Nasarawa United beat Plateau United 3-2 at the Lafia City Stadium. After the final whistle, Bala attacked Temitope near the pitch. The police quickly stepped in to handle the situation.
Bala was charged with assault, use of criminal force, and causing a public disturbance. He pleaded guilty in court, and the judge gave the sentence to send a clear warning against violence in Nigerian football.
Nasarawa United later released a statement saying that Temitope only had a minor neck injury, clearing up false rumours that he was stabbed. The player has since returned to training and is focused on upcoming matches.
This case shows the urgent need for better security at NPFL games to stop violent behaviour from fans.
