Pillars Basketball Players Quit Camp In Protest Over Maltreatment

…May boycott Nigerian Premier League in Minna

By Ado Salisu, Kano

About 70 per cent of Kano Pillars basketball team have left their camp over alleged ill treatment by the management of the Kano State Sports Commission.

The club, which recently managed to qualify for the next stage of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League organized by the Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF, is facing serious financial crisis.

Investigation carried out by our correspondent revealed that despite the club’s performance in the first stage of the league in Jos, the Plateau state capital, which earned them a slot to compete in the second stage of the league in Minna, Niger state, scheduled for June 17, 2026, the players deserted their camp in protest of ill treatment.

Our correspondent also gathered that even during the first stage of the league, the club had to borrow money to participate in Jos due to non-release of funds by the Kano state government.

A source confirmed that as at Sunday 7, 2026, 70 per cent of the players had left the team’s camp to their various destinations, since, according to them, there is no sign of relief and improvement from the state Sports Commission led by Dr. Murtala Musa Dagumawa.

”It’s very unfortunate that just few days to the second phase of the league in Minna, we are yet to receive our allowances and other entitlements, let alone making proper arrangements ahead of the league.”

”Kano Pillars have won several league trophies in Nigeria and excelled in West Africa Zone 3 qualifiers as well as in FIBA Africa clubs championship in the past, but now we cannot even prepare well for Savannah conferences,” the source explained.

The source, however, called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the situation with a view to finding a lasting solution for the club and sports generally in the state.

When contacted, the acting Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, Dr. Murtala Musa Dagumawa confirmed the non-release of funds but quickly assured that the state government will soon overcome the challenge.

On the issues of players desertion, he said that he is not aware that any player left the camp because the commission, which is always in liaison with the club secretary on players’ situation and did not get any such report.