The management of Rangers International FC of Enugu on Thursday urged the League Management Company to move its Week Nine encounter with FC Taraba from Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The General Manager of Rangers, Paul Ozor, told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone that the change of venue became imperative due to security concerns.
Ozor said the communal clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Jukuns in Wukari Local Government Area was a cause for concern to the Enugu State Government, especially as Rangers travel to Jalingo.
He said: “We wrote to the LMC that we will not honour that match unless it is moved out of Jalingo or be postponed until tension cools in the area.
“However, the LMC replied us this morning through its Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, saying that we don’t have a good reason for a change of venue.
“I told him that I will hold LMC responsible if anything happens to the team (Rangers).”
Abubakar told NAN that there was no basis for a change of venue considering the fact that Giwa FC of Jos played its Week Eight encounter in Jalingo on Sunday.
Abubakar noted that the match ended without any security breach or disruption.
He said: “A match was played on Sunday between Giwa and FC Taraba and Giwa, which was the visiting team, and won the match and there was no complaint.
“Giwa travelled from Jos, the same distance Ranger will travel from Enugu.
“You can see that security agents have apprehended some group of people that were disturbing the peace in the area.
“The Nigerian Army said the people disguised as herdsmen.”
NAN reports that in another Week Nine fixture, Heartland FC of Owerri will square up against Enyimba International FC of Aba.
The match will take place on Saturday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Imo State.
In other matches scheduled for Sunday, Crown FC of Ogbomosho engage Nembe City FC of Brass, while El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri trade tackles with Sharks FC in Port Harcourt.
Elsewhere, Gombe United FC host Kaduna United, Nasarawa United play Dolphins FC, Akwa United battle Sunshine Stars of Akure, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi test their might against Kano Pillars.
Also, Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia will confront Warri Wolves on Sunday.
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