Armed robbers attacked and fired shots at Nigerian side Kano Pillars on their way to Owerri on Thursday ahead of their league opening game with Heartland. The Nigerian champions were travelling in a 32-seater Coaster bus which had 25 people including 18 players alongside a four-man technical crew in another car led by coach Okey Emordi when it came under attack. Thankfully, no life was lost. 
The head coach of the Nigerian champions expressed his delight that no one was killed. The coach was left relieved that no lives were lost in the ordeal as he described how the robbers fired shots while on the bus. "They were shooting and still requesting money," he stated. "We were throwing money at them to help reduce the attack. "They made away with our money. There were some injuries. However, thanks be to Almighty God that no one died. "It is a common phenomenon. If you look at security generally in the country, I’m not going to condemn our law enforcement officers because they are trying their best however, they can't be everywhere. "So they need some of us to scout out these criminals and let them know where they are hiding so that they can go and fetch them out." Reuben Ogbonnaya , one of the injured players, lamented the injury suffered from the attack however, was thankful at surviving the incident. "It's terrible. I’m in pain however, thank God for saving our lives that none of us died. Only God saved us," he stated. 
Meanwhile, the officials of Kogi State Football Association, led by its secretary Augustine Ogunmola who visited the team at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where they are receiving treatment, expressed sympathy with the team over the unfortunate incident. "We, on behalf of the Kogi State FA, condole withthe players and officials of Kano Pillars. The attack is unfortunate and unacceptable. We use this medium to call upon the state police command todo everything in its power to ensure the perpetrators won’t go scout free," Ogunmola stated. - GOAL
