<H2>Three shot dead in Nigerian league riot</H2>
<SPAN>First Published: Mar 27, 2007</SPAN> <DIV class=pictureCaption style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 245px">
A Nigerian policeman whips football fans as they gather outside the Lagos stadium in 2000. Three people were killed when angry fans went on the rampage during a Nigerian league game played at the weekend.</DIV>
Three people were killed when angry fans went on the rampage during a Nigerian league game played at the weekend, officials said Tuesday.
"Policemen attached to Enyimba shot dead three fans," said Akwa Ibom state sports official Chris Ekong.
"The police came to the stadium with live bullets and opened fire on fans when trouble began."
Fans went on the rampage when referee Felicia Okwugba awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of a Premier League match involving host team Akwa United and Enyimba with Akwa United leading 2-1.
They manhandled the referee leading policemen attached to Enyimba to open fire on them. They also set ablaze several vehicles parked at the stadium premises and clashed with police.
On Monday, angry youths took to the streets destroying property and looking to hunt down people from the eastern part of Nigeria, where Enyimba are based.
The Nigerian Football League (NFL) has since banned the Uyo Township Stadium where the match was played while Akwa United have been banished to Minna, northcentral Nigeria.
A special three-man probe panel has also been set up by the NFL to fully investigate the fracas.
<SPAN>First Published: Mar 27, 2007</SPAN> <DIV class=pictureCaption style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 245px">
A Nigerian policeman whips football fans as they gather outside the Lagos stadium in 2000. Three people were killed when angry fans went on the rampage during a Nigerian league game played at the weekend.</DIV>
Three people were killed when angry fans went on the rampage during a Nigerian league game played at the weekend, officials said Tuesday.
"Policemen attached to Enyimba shot dead three fans," said Akwa Ibom state sports official Chris Ekong.
"The police came to the stadium with live bullets and opened fire on fans when trouble began."
Fans went on the rampage when referee Felicia Okwugba awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of a Premier League match involving host team Akwa United and Enyimba with Akwa United leading 2-1.
They manhandled the referee leading policemen attached to Enyimba to open fire on them. They also set ablaze several vehicles parked at the stadium premises and clashed with police.
On Monday, angry youths took to the streets destroying property and looking to hunt down people from the eastern part of Nigeria, where Enyimba are based.
The Nigerian Football League (NFL) has since banned the Uyo Township Stadium where the match was played while Akwa United have been banished to Minna, northcentral Nigeria.
A special three-man probe panel has also been set up by the NFL to fully investigate the fracas.
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