The technical manager of Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke, and Ikorodu City FC, have sympathized with El-Kanemi Warriors following a harrowing armed robbery attack on the team.
El-Kanemi Warriors were victims of an armed robbery attack as the Maiduguri-based side were making their way home after competing against Ikorodu City in Lagos during the NPFL Matchday 14 on Wednesday, November 27.
As the team travelled along the Jos-Bauchi road, they were ambushed by armed bandits who attacked their convoy. The violent encounter resulted in several players and officials sustaining injuries, while their personal belongings were stolen, causing significant distress.
Fortunately, amidst the chaos, there were no fatalities reported, but the traumatic experience has undoubtedly created a challenging atmosphere for the team’s preparations ahead of their upcoming Matchday 15 game against Bayelsa United, scheduled to take place in Maiduguri later today, December 1. 
In his statement released through the Heartland’s media team, Amuneke expressed his heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured members of the team.
“This is an unfortunate incident, and my thoughts are deeply with the players and officials of El-Kanemi Warriors during this difficult time,” Amuneke stated.
The former Nigeria international emphasized the urgent need for improved safety measures on the roads, highlighting the responsibility of the Federal Government to address the deteriorating infrastructure and enhance security measures to prevent future incidents of this nature.
He added, “The safety of all travellers, including our dedicated athletes, must be regarded with the utmost seriousness. The increasing frequency of attacks by armed bandits has fostered an environment of fear, and decisive action must be taken to restore trust and safety on our roads.”
The El-Kanemi Warriors’ unfortunate experience is a reflection of a larger issue that has been troubling Nigerian football in recent years: the safety of teams travelling for league matches. Many clubs rely heavily on road transportation due to financial constraints, and this reliance exposes them to numerous risks associated with long-distance travel on poorly maintained roads.
The Jos-Bauchi road, where this latest attack occurred, has been identified as a notorious hotspot for banditry, where travellers are frequently vulnerable to both armed robberies and dangerous road conditions caused by the crumbling infrastructure.
A statement from Ikorodu City sympathizing with El-Kanemi Warriors on Saturday, November 30, reads: “Ikorodu City Football Club sympathize with El-Kanemi Warriors on the robbery incident they encountered on their way back to Maiduguri after their NPFL25 MD14 clash with us in Lagos.
“On hearing this reports of the incident earlier today, the club chairman Sanmi Doherty says he is really sad about the incident and wishes for a quick recovery for anyone who might have sustained injuries amongst players and officials of El-Kanemi Warriors.
“The incident was said to have happened along Jos-Bauchi Road around 2 am as the team returned to Maiduguri. leaving several players injured and rushed to the nearby hospital and also with loss of valuables.
“l am really sad about the event and I pray everyone who suffered any kind of injuries gets healed fast. I also hope they recover from the mental effect soon, Sanmi Doherty said.
“Our heartfelt Sympathy as a club remains with El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club.”
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