Media outlets had earlier reported the incident though unverified as at the time due to lack of official statement or confirmation from the management of the Club but Enugu State Police Command have now confirmed the kidnap of Eguma in a statement. 

Media platforms reported that Eguma was abducted along Enugu road with two of his personal assistants on his way back from a Nigerian Professional Football League match against Adamawa United, at the Ribadu Square Stadium, Yola, which the Pride of Rivers lost 2-0.

A source close to the coach, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity, said.

“The coach did not return with the team on Tuesday but that’s all I can tell you. We hear he has been kidnapped but we are waiting to hear officially from the club management,”.

A statement released and signed by Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe for Commissioner of Police Enugu State Command confirming Eguma's kidnap highlighted that a complaint was "made at Anti-Kidnapping unit of the command same date of the of the incident at about 17:05hrs by two other persons travelling with the victim (Eguma) who alleged that the unidentified gunmen, operating in a white-coloured Hilux Van, trailed and forced the black-coloured Hilux Van conveying them from Gombe State to Port-Harcourt, to stop." 

According to the statement, the two other persons "further alleged that the assailants pushed the two of them out and made away with the vehicle, abducting the victim in the process". 

The statement titled Enugu State Police Command Bulletin of 16th June 2021- Allege Trailing and Abduction of Stanley Eguma along Enugu/Port Harcourt Express Way; CP Aliyu Orders Intensed Full-Scale Investigation to Rescue Victim and Apprehend Assailants reads in full:

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, psc, has ordered that no stone should be left unturned in the already launched full-scale investigation  to rescue one Stanley Eguma (m), Head Coach of Rivers United Football Club of Port-Harcourt, and the arrest of the yet-to-be identifed gunmen, alleged to have abducted him on 15/06/2021 at about 1600hrs, along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway.

2. The order is sequel to a complaint made at Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command same date of the incident at about 1705hrs, by two other persons traveling with the victim, who alleged that the unidentifed gunmen, operating in a white-coloured Hilux Van, trailed and forced the black-coloured Hilux Van conveying them from Gombe State to Port-Harcourt, to stop. They further alleged that the assailants pushed the two of them out and made away with vehicle, abducting the victim in the process.

4. Meanwhile, the Commissioner has enjoined members of the public with useful information that will assist the Command in the ongoing investigation, to endeavour to provide same by calling the Command's hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172; or by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He assures the confidentiality of the informants identities.

Sports Attack of Today FM contacted the General Manager of Rivers United, Okey Kpaluku seeking clarifications and possibly confirmation of the incident but the club manager declined speaking on the matter. 

The Media Officer of the club Mayuku Charles did not pick calls to him nor return any at the time of filing this report.

Rivers State Honorable Commissioner for Sport, Boma Iyaye, when contacted by Sports Attack said he was not fully briefed on the matter and thus lack details to speak on it.

Abduction of footballers coaches and their relatives is not strange to Nigeria. 

With the recent event, Eguma becomes the second NPFL coach to be kidnaped in two years after Abdullahi Biffo of Kwara United.  

The mother of former Super Eagles and Flying Eagles Coach Sampson Sia Sia has been kidnapped twice between  2015 and 2019. 

The father of ex Super Eagles Captain and Chelsea Legend John Mikel Obi has suffered abduction twice, with the most recent in 2007. 

Last year saw the kidnap of Super Eagles and Enyimba star Dayo Ojo alongside two others on the Benin-Owo expressway on his way to Akure following the suspension of the NPFL due to the outbreak of covid-19.

The kidnap of Eguma will not be unconnected to the high rate of insecurity bedeviling the country at present.