By In what appeared to be another shocking development, supporters of Team Edo went on rampage at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre disrupting the ongoing boxing event of the National Sports Festival hosted by Edo State.
It was gathered that the violence was in a bid to disallow the announcement of a result which their boxer had convincingly lost.
The bout between Team Edo’ s Lydia Uhumwangho and Bayelsa’s Jachinlta Umunnekwe ended with the decision of the referees not likely to favour the hosting state.
Almost immediately, apprehensive Edo fans reportedly invaded the floor, chanting war songs to intimidate the referees from going ahead with the announcement of the result.
Despite pleas from the senior Edo State government officials who were present, the fans refused to calm, worsening the situation.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the shocked disconnection of power within the cultural centre for some minutes by unknown persons. This worsened the already tensed atmosphere.
Security personnel on ground couldn’t handle the situation as they were seen running for their lives as well as many helpless athletes and officials.
Earlier on Tuesday, supporters, officials and boxers of Team Ogun, in what appeared to be a planned violence, went wild following their defeat by Team Lagos in the boxing event — largely caused by a decision that went against one of their pugilists.
Team Ogun couldn’t pocket the loss. Consequently, they descended on the referees and other boxing officials, throwing chairs, tables and other dangerous weapons in the process. Though, normalcy was later restored at the venue.
