NPFL: Otukpo massacre force Lobi, Warriors match to postponed till Sunday, Kwara hosts Rangers in Ilorin

The Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL, match between Lobi Stars and Abia Warriors slated to be held on Saturday at the Lafia township stadium will now be held on Sunday.  

The postponement of the match which was slated to kick off at 4 pm in Lafia town is said to be in honour of those who lost their lives in Otukpo, Benue State during the deadly attacks on four banks Friday afternoon by armed robbers in the area.

Armed robbers invaded several banks in Otukpo at about 3 p.m. on Friday, shooting sporadically.

Dominic Iorfa, Vice Chairman and CEO of Lobi Stars FC announced the postponement on Saturday.

Iorfa, in a statement, said the postponement is to sympathize with the immediate families of those who were killed in the deadly attack.

The statement read: “We regret to inform you that, Lobi Stars NPFL matchday 4 tie against Abia Warriors has been postponed.

“The reason for the postponement is to sympathize with the immediate families who lost their loved ones in a deadly robbery attack on four banks in Otukpo, Benue State, on Friday.

“Otukpo, the venue of the deadly incident is the Local Government of the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, who is also the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club.

“Following this ugly incident, the Management of Lobi Stars approached the league authorities and requested a shift in date so as to mourn with the bereaved.

“Consequently, the league authorities have approved their request and shifted Lobi Stars’ encounter against visiting Abia Warriors to Sunday, at the same venue in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The time remains 4 pm.

“May God grant those who lost their lives during the incident eternal rest and console their families.”

 And Rangers forward Ifeanyi Ogba has said the players are highly motivated for the matchday four encounter against Kwara United in Ilorin.

The Flying Antelopes will lock horns with the Harmony Boys at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin, on Sunday.

Ogba promised the Coal City supporters to expect victory at the end of the encounter.

“At first, we were supposed to arrive in Ilorin on Friday but we arrived on Thursday; this motivates us to get the job done,” he told Rangers media.

“Rangers supporters need to be positive, as they should expect nothing less than victory from us.”

Rangers currently occupy second place on the NPFL table.