Plateau United striker Vincent Temitope was stabbed in the neck by a fan after an NPFL match against Nasarawa United. The attacker posed as a supporter seeking a photo before striking. Temitope is recovering in hospital, and the club has demanded action over rising stadium violence in Nigerian football.
A Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) match turned violent on Sunday when Vincent Temitope, a striker for Plateau United, was stabbed in the neck by an individual posing as a fan shortly after a tense fixture against Nasarawa United at Lafia City Stadium.
According to club officials, the attack occurred following Plateau United’s narrow 3–2 loss. Witnesses say a small group of supporters approached Temitope under the pretense of taking photographs. Moments later, one individual reportedly pulled out a knife and slashed the player’s neck before fleeing the scene.
Yaksat Maklek, the club’s director of media operations, confirmed the incident and stated that Temitope received emergency treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia. The player is now in stable condition and recovering, though the psychological toll of the event remains uncertain.
“It could have ended much worse,” Maklek said in a statement. “This wasn’t just a security breach; it was a direct attack on a professional athlete in what should be a safe space.”
Plateau United has launched an internal investigation and is preparing to submit a formal report, along with video and eyewitness testimony, to the NPFL and relevant authorities. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, though it underscores a growing concern about fan behavior and inadequate stadium security in Nigerian football.
Temitope, who joined the club last season and was recently shortlisted for the Super Eagles B squad ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), is expected to remain under medical observation for the coming days.
League organizers and law enforcement are yet to issue an official response.
