Ex-Eaglets World Cup winner shot dead ·Fish out his killers —Gombe United

BARELY three months after a Nigeria Professional Football League player, Izu Joseph was killed in yet to be ascertained circumstance, world champion with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and a player from newly-promoted NPFL side, Gombe United, Uzama Douglas was shot dead while holidaying in Benin City on Thursday by armed men believed to be cultists.

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) defender, Izu was shot dead in his country home in Rivers State last October.

A close friend of Uzama, former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles player said that the left back was shot and declared dead on arrival in hospital.

“He was still on break in Benin City and was yet to resume for the new season,” the friend said.

“He went out with friends when some cult boys carried out an attack against them. He was shot and that was it.

“The killers fled and left my friend in cold blood.”

Meanwhile, a statement by Gombe United’s Assistant General Manager (Media and Publicity), Tanimu Umar said:

“We feel pained by his demise and the circumstances that led to his untimely death. Our thoughts and condolences go to the family of the deceased.

“We are hereby calling on the security forces to hunt for Douglas Uzama’s murderers and bring them to book. The entire landscape in Nigeria has been blighted by the endemic twin evil of crime and violence, these need to curtailed, the bloody killers of Douglas Uzama must be apprehended,” the statement said.

Tributes have been pouring in, in honour of the dead player.

NPFL side, Sunshine Stars through their official twitter handle Sunshine Stars FC @SunshineFCAkure tweeted “Our thoughts and prayers are with Gombe United FC on the death of their defender, Douglas Uzama.”