BY: AHMAD HAMISU GWALE, KANO
On Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, security personnel from Kano Pillars denied entry to accredited journalists for the coverage of Sai Masu Gida match.
Three journalists from different media houses were turned away while attempting to cover the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match between Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes.
According to eyewitnesses, a member of the Kano Pillars fans club insisted that the journalists purchase match tickets, despite identifying themselves as accredited media personnel.
READ ALSO: Kano Pillars Players Involved In Accident
An insider also told GLOBAL TRACKER that even if the journalist purchase the ticket they would not gained entry or be prostrated by on the course of doing their job.
“I introduced myself and explained that I was there to cover the match, but the security personnel refused to grant me entry,” one journalist said.
The situation escalated when more members of the Kano State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) arrived, only to be met with hostilities.
However, after long trading of wards some parts of journalist were allowed in while others also purchase the ticket before gaining entry.
There was anticipation that this episode will only be the first one.
Any efforts to reach the Chairman of the Kano Pillars Fans Club for comment were unsuccessful.
This incident raises concerns about the treatment of journalists in Nigerian sports and highlights the need for greater respect and cooperation between sports organizations and the media.