An African club has issued a response after their team bus filled with players was stopped by armed robbers on their way to a match.
Nigerian club El-Kanemi Warriors FC were held to a goalless draw by Bayelsa United FC in a Nigeria Premier Football League clash on Sunday.
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However, the match was overshadowed by a terrifying ordeal involving the team prior to the game.
The players and coaches of El-Kanemi narrowly escaped harm after their team bus was ambushed by armed men while travelling to the match.
According to Naija News, citing a statement from local authorities, law enforcement officers have been instructed to intensify efforts to apprehend the assailants. Reports also confirm that the players were robbed of their valuables during the attack.
Personal Assistant to the team's Technical Adviser, Suleiman Abdullahi, shared harrowing details of the incident with Daily Trust.
"We were on our way from Jos to Maiduguri when the armed robbers ambushed our two buses," he explained.
"They fired sporadically, stopped the buses and a saloon car. They ordered all the occupants out of the buses.
"They attacked us with machetes and sticks, robbing us of our money, handsets, and valuables.
"In the process, more than 10 players and officials were injured.
"After the incident, the victims were rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, where they were treated.
"We later reported the matter to the GRA Police Station in Bauchi and subsequently the team moved to Maiduguri."
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Despite enduring such a traumatic experience, the team showed resilience by taking to the pitch just hours later. However, the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of players and officials on their travels.