Arsenal fans shutdown down Makurdi in EPL trophy celebration

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Excitement filled the air in Makurdi as thousands of passionate Arsenal supporters gathered in a victory parade to celebrate the club’s English Premier League trophy triumph, ending a 22-year wait for the silverware since the era of the famous “Invincibles.”

The celebration, which attracted fans from different walks of life, turned into a carnival-like atmosphere with singing, dancing and chants by supporters proudly dressed in Arsenal colours.

The event which saw the fans walk from the Makurdi underpass to an Event Centre opposite Radio Benue office, where the fans were entertained, attracted top security personnel, government officials, politicians, political party leaders, civil servants, and youths including women.

Leading the fans during the parade, Chairman of the Arsenal Premier League Champions Parade and Celebration Committee, musical artist, Orduen Ikon, popularly known as OD Woods, described the celebration as a reward for years of patience, loyalty and endurance by Arsenal supporters. Ikon, who is also the Benue State Coordinator of the National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Project Office, said Arsenal fans had endured years of ridicule and mockery from rival clubs.

“This is worth celebrating because after 22 years of waiting, all the banter we received, and after finishing second so many times, today we are number one. We want the whole of Benue and the world to share in our joy and happiness. We have been called bottlers and second-class citizens, but today is our day to celebrate,” he said.

Ikon explained that the event was organised not only to mark Arsenal’s triumph but also to showcase the unity and passion among supporters in the state. He said the celebration would featured a trophy parade, music, dancing, barbecue, entertainment and a raffle draw, with a cow prepared for roasting at the venue. “We want to celebrate this patient and well-deserved victory and show others how football success should be celebrated,” he added.

He also expressed gratitude to Arsenal players, coaches and staff for ending the club’s long wait for the Premier League title saying “We are going to celebrate this team forever. Every player, member of the coaching crew, kitchen staff and everyone who contributed to this success will always be remembered as the team that brought victory back to Arsenal.”

Speaking at the event, a top Arsenal fan and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Makurdi Local Government Area, Mr. Paul Tion, described the victory as emotional and historic for loyal supporters who had endured years of disappointment and mockery.

“I am an Arsenal supporter and I have followed this club for about 35 years. What you are seeing here today shows how much this means to us. Since the days of the ‘Invincibles’, we have waited 22 years for this kind of moment,” Tion said.

He noted that supporting Arsenal had become a family culture he was determined to pass down to future generations. “I grew up in an Arsenal family and now my children are also Arsenal fans. I have mentored them into supporting the club and I believe they too will transfer this passion to the next generation,” he stated.

According to him, football has become a strong force for unity among supporters irrespective of differences in religion or politics. “This gathering cuts across political and religious divides. We are united here by one thing, Arsenal. It does not matter where you come from or what you believe in. Today, we are one family,” he added.

Tion further disclosed that the supporters’ celebration would include humanitarian outreach to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Benue State. “This is not just about football celebrations. On June 7, we will hold a thanksgiving service at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Apir and afterward we will visit IDPs with relief materials. We have already arranged collection centres and even a cow that will be donated to them,” he said.

Some supporters who spoke during the celebration expressed happiness over the club’s achievement after years without a major title.

Mrs Emanuella Hwande said the victory had restored pride and excitement among Arsenal faithful, while Deborah Adeka, described the feeling as overwhelming.
“We have waited for this day for so long. I am overwhelmed with joy seeing Arsenal win again,” she stated.

Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the celebration, Mr. Joseph Kutuh, recalled becoming an Arsenal supporter in 1999 after Nigerian football icon Nwankwo Kanu joined the club.

“I started supporting Arsenal when Kanu joined the club and I also admired their style of football under Arsene Wenger. That was what made many of us remain loyal supporters,” Kutuh explained.

He said the lengthy wait for another trophy exposed fans to endless banter from rival supporters.

“When Arsenal last won in 2004, my children were still very young. Today they are all grown and one is already married. For 22 years we endured pressure and mockery from other fans. People even joked that we couldn’t order Trophy beer,” he said humorously.

Kutuh praised the current players for restoring hope and glory to the club.
“The players who made this possible have written their names in gold. Arsenal fans will always remember them as legends of the club,” he added.

The Media Strategist of the Arsenal Trophy Parade and Watch Party, Iorliam Shija, stated that the parade and watch party were only part of the activities lined up for the two-week celebration programme organized by Arsenal supporters in Benue State.

The former aide to ex Governor Samuel Ortom, disclosed that more activities were scheduled to follow, including a grand watch party on May 30 for Champions League , a thanksgiving mass at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Apir, as well as humanitarian visits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

According to him, the programme is designed not only to celebrate Arsenal’s success but also to promote unity, community engagement and humanitarian outreach among fans across the state.

He urged Arsenal supporters to remain coordinated online and offline, participate actively in all scheduled events, and continue using the official campaign hashtag #BenueArsenal to drive visibility and engagement throughout the celebration period.

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