Nigeria Players Union writes Defence Chief, others; seeks justice for murdered soccer star Izu Joseph

News Express |2nd Nov 2016 | 2,909

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has written to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Sports, Senate and House of Representatives committees on Sports, the Nigeria Football Federation and the Trade Union Congress demanding for an independent enquiry into the unwarranted killing of one of its members, Izu Joseph, who was until his death on Sunday 16th October a professional player with 3SC Football Club of Ibadan.

Austin Popo, General Secretary of the Association, in a statement issued in Lagos, Tuesday, recalled that the late player was shot twice by the army on the October 16, 2016 in the late player village, Okarki in Bayelsa State, and thrown into the river during a raid by the military who claimed the player was a cultist. The Players Union had since debunk the claim by the military that late Izu Joseph was a cultist.

According to Popo, “The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigamaa, has assured the Nigeria players Union, one of its affiliates that the TUC will task the military and all necessary sports and government agencies to get to the root of the avoidable and unwarranted killing of the late player and ensue justice is done.

“The Union has equally put its members on notice, especially the current Professional League players through their chairman, the First Vice President of the union, Comrade Austin Festus, captain of Rivers United FC, demanding their solidarity to get justice for Izu Joseph, while waiting for the official response from the military and other sports bodies and committees that supervise and oversee sporting activities in Nigeria.”

•Photo shows murdered football star Izu Joseph.

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