Some fans at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre on Tuesday disrupted the boxing event of the National Sports Festival and caused pandemonium, as people inside the venue ran helter-skelter.

Trouble started a few minutes after 7pm after the bout between Team Edo’s Lydia Uhumwangho and Bayelsa’s Jacinta Umunnekwe ended.

With the decision of the referees not likely to favour the hosts, some apprehensive fans, believed to be supporters of Team Edo, invaded the floor, chanting war songs to intimidate the referees from announcing the result.

Pleas from Edo State government officials failed to calm the fans until the situation escalated.
Thereafter, the disconnection of power within the venue for few minutes by unknown persons compounded the already tense situation, as people, including the security personnel, ran for dear life, even in the dark.

Gunshots were heard outside the hall as the irate fans locked the gate to the venue.

Three fights did not hold on Tuesday night because of the violence. These include the 91kg bout between Lagos and Ondo states (male), +81kg fight between Ondo and Delta and +91kg bout between Delta and Enugu.