The chairman of the Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Barrister Paul Edeh has donated N1.2m and branded balls to two Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs – Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Abia Warriors of Aba.
Edeh, who announced the donation when he visited the officials and players of the two clubs in Lafia, venue of their rescheduled NPFL matchday 4, said the donation was to cushion the effect of the postponed match.
Accompanied by the BSFA Secretary Dr. Iorngulum Malu and other officials, Barr. Edeh, who first met with Lobi Stars players and team members at their camp, described the killings in Otukpo by armed robbers that forced the postponement of the match as horrific and bizarre, explained that the one day postponement of their match was in line with the mourning mood of the entire people of Benue State.
“All my life while growing up in the Otukpo environment where I had my primary and secondary education I neither witnessed nor heard of such wicked happening in the area.
“How can innocent people who left their houses in search of daily bread be wasted like this? All because a few young men of the underworld thought it was necessary to steal the joy of many families away and bring our dear state to its knees after raiding up to five banks and murdering many people.
“I couldn’t sleep as I reflected on the extent of carnage brought upon a people for no reason whatsoever because an injury to one is an injury to all.
“I want to use this medium to thank the chairman of NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for sympathising with us and agreeing that the match be postponed, despite what it will cost, as a mark of honour to the victims who died for no,” he said.
In their separate remarks, the vice chairman of Lobi Stars, Dominic Iorfa and Captain of the club, Daniel Atasaka, thanked Benue FA board, and reckoned that the visit and support have spurred the team to put in their best at all times.
At Abia Warriors’ camp, Barr. Edeh, together with Iorfa and BSFA Secretary, thanked the club for their understanding and solidarity at this critical time of the state.
Responding, the Club Sporting Director, Emeka Ifejiagwa, and Head Coach, Erasmus Onu, sympathised with Lobi Stars, BSFA and the entire football family in Benue state.
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