Players and officials of Akwa United narrowly escaped an armed robbery attack on their way back to base, following the Matchday 5 league game against Kwara United.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening along Ogoni Road, Rivers State, on their way back from Ibadan, where the 2021 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions were defeated 2-1 by Kwara United.

Akwa United buses were said to have unknowingly ran into roadblocks mounted by the robbers.

Noticing the gravity of the situation, the bus drivers attempted to pull back but the assailants “pelted the vehicles with dangerous weapons, smashed the windows and ran after the vehicles which led to one vehicle running into another.”

Luckily, no life was lost and no one was injured. The team managed to arrive in Uyo at about 9:55 p.m. the same day.

Reacting to the incident, the club manager, Emmanuel Udoh, described the experience as a “terrible” one, stressing that there is need to put psychological effects of the incident behind as soon as possible.

“The attack on our team along Ogoni road was one terrible experience and the psychological effects is what we need to put behind us fast.

“It was God that saved us from those hoodlums, who were determined to do anything to us. The worst part of it is that the attack happened in-between two police checkpoints,” Udoh said.

He added: “On behalf of Akwa United, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all security agencies to redouble their effort especially along some well-known dangerous locations like Ogoni road.”