Unidentified gunmen on December 7, 2023 attacked Sunshine Stars’ bus along the Benin-Ore expressway, Ondo State, leaving the football team manager, players and other officials injured.

The club said in a statement after the attack that the team had left their base in Akure, Ondo State capital, to Benin, Edo State, to honour the weekend’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match against Bendel Insurance.

“It saddens our hearts to inform Nigerians, especially football lovers, that our team was att@cked a few minutes ago along Ore-Benin Expressway to honour an Elite League tie against Insurance of Benin, scheduled for this weekend.

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Our ball boy was shot in the horrible attack; our team manager and other club officials, including players, are seriously injured,” the team said.

In some pictures making the rounds, a team member lay down on a hospital bed with a severe inury to his stomach, apparently from a gunshôt.