At least 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent lost their lives in a devastating accident on Saturday while returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The tragic crash occurred at the Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government Area of Kano State. The bus, carrying 30 members of the team, reportedly veered off the bridge, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, confirmed the heartbreaking event. “As I speak to you, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” he said, adding that several others had sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed that the injured individuals were being taken to Kura General Hospital for treatment.
The Kano Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) acknowledged the incident as well. According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, they had just received the report and were unable to confirm the exact number of casualties at that time.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the state and the wider sports community, casting a somber shadow over what had been a moment of celebration and achievement at the national event.
