AFCON: Gunmen kill SuperSport crew members, police, says NFF

AFCON: Gunmen kill SuperSport crew members, police, says NFF

Tragedy struck as gunmen ambushed a crew from SuperSport, killing three members, including a cameraman, police officer, and bus driver, while traveling to cover the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, along the Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra State.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Saturday that the victims were “killed by kidnappers in an ambush on the Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra State, on Tuesday, 8th October 2024” and is commiserating with the families of the slain persons.

“Information gathered on the incident revealed that the bandits opened fire on the bus in which the SuperSport operatives were travelling, with Staff and security personnel on board, and the attack immediately resulted in the deaths of a cameraman, a police officer, and the bus driver,” the NFF said on Saturday.

A sad NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said though Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 in the Friday encounter in the Southern city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the incident has cast a shadow on the Super Eagles’ victory.

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“Yes, we won the match against Libya and took three points, but the fact that three lives were lost created a situation in which we were unable to celebrate properly, and it hurts seriously to even think back at the unfortunate incident,” Gusau said.

He recalled Nigeria’s “long and fruitful relationship with SuperSport” and said the football body shares in “their pain and sorrow at this period.

“Our prayer is that the Almighty will comfort the SuperSport family and the families of the deceased, and also grant the deceased eternal rest,” he said while praying for the safe return of one person “still unaccounted for so”.

Fourteen persons were said to have been in the vehicle at the time of the ambush.

“Eight persons were eventually rescued, two escaped on their own, three were killed and one person is still unaccounted for,” the NFF’s statement read.

AFCON: Gunmen kill SuperSport crew members, police, says NFF