The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kwara State Chapter, strongly condemns the acts of violence that marred the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 22 fixture between Kwara United and Rivers United at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Football remains a unifying force and a vehicle for sportsmanship, not a theatre for hooliganism and lawlessness.
The reported assault on match officials, officials of Rivers United, and the invasion of restricted areas by supporters is unacceptable and brings the game into disrepute, the statement signed by the Vice Chairman, Mallam Toyin Saheed, and the Secttary, Dare Kuti read.
“As stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, we are particularly alarmed that this unfortunate development occurred barely days after journalists were attacked by suspected supporters at the same venue.”
“We regret to note that proactive measures were not sufficiently taken by the stakeholders to decisively address that earlier incident, which could have served as a deterrent to subsequent acts of violence.”
SWAN Kwara therefore, tasks the management of Kwara United to fully commit to identifying and bringing to book the perpetrators of these disgraceful acts, in line with the directives of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“Accountability must not only be promised but demonstrated through visible cooperation with security agencies and the league body.
“We commend the NPFL for its swift response and decisive sanctions, which underscore the league’s zero tolerance for violence,” the statement added.
However, while justice must be served to protect the integrity of the league, we respectfully urge the NPFL to tamper justice with mercy by not deducting their points after similar occurred in Wikki vs Katsina United where they were only fined, considering that Kwara State has historically maintained a largely peaceful sporting environment.
Going forward, we call on club management, supporters’ groups, and security agencies to work collaboratively to restore confidence, guarantee the safety of players, officials, journalists, and fans, and ensure that Ilorin remains a safe and hospitable venue for football.
