Breaking: Gunmen kill Nigerian footballer in Benin City

Armed men suspected to be cultists have reportedly killed Gombe United defender Uzama Douglas.

Uzama was shot dead in Benin City on Thursday, Africanfootball.com reports.

The left back is a former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles invitee.

The defender declared dead on arrival in hospital according to a close friend of the deceased.

“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.”

A top official at Gombe United said: The Gombe United family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our defender Uzama Douglas.

“This is a sad loss to Uzama’s family, Gombe United and the nation.”

Uzama is the second footballer shot from the domestic football scene in the last three months after Shooting Stars central defender Izu Joseph was shot dead by soldiers.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Gombe United FC on the death of their defender, Douglas Uzama.

— Sunshine Stars FC (@SunshineFCAkure) December 30, 2016