A supporter of Nasarawa United, Bashir Bala, has been sentenced to three months in prison by a chief magistrate court in Lafia. You also have the option of paying a fine instead of serving the jail period. This follows his attack on Vincent Theitope, a player for Plateau United, on April 17, 2025.
The incident occurred after the Nigeria Premier Football League match (NPFL), where Nasarawa United defeated Plateau United 3-2 at the Lafia city stadium. After the final whistle, Bala attacked Theitope near the field. Police intervened quickly to handle the situation.
Bala was accused of assault, use of criminal force and causing public disturbance. He declared himself guilty in the Court, and the judge gave the sentence to send a clear warning against violence in Nigerian football.
Nasarawa United then issued a statement by saying that Theitope only had a minor neck injury, eliminating false rumors that it was stabbed. Since then, the player has returned to training and focuses on the next games.
This case shows the urgent need for better security in NPFL games to stop the violent behavior of fans.
