Tragedy on Return: 20 Kano Athletes Perish in Devastating Bus Crash After National Sports Festival

 

Kano Mourns as Fatal Bus Crash Claims Lives of Returning Athletes

Kano State has been plunged into mourning following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of at least 20 athletes who were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The accident, which occurred at the Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area on Saturday, involved a bus carrying about 30 members of the Kano contingent.

Grief has spread across the sporting community and beyond, as families, friends, and officials come to terms with the magnitude of the loss. According to the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, the bus veered off the road and plunged off the bridge, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.

While addressing journalists, Fagge disclosed the devastating scene, saying, “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies.” He also noted that several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Some survivors remain in critical condition.

Witness accounts and local authorities confirmed that the athletes were on their way home after participating in the national sporting event, which had brought together athletes from across the country. What was supposed to be a triumphant return turned into a nightmare that has left the entire state reeling.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described the aftermath as horrifying. Crushed metal, scattered belongings, and the cries of the injured painted a haunting picture of a tragedy that unfolded in a matter of seconds. Emergency services and good Samaritans raced against time to extract victims from the wreckage and transport them to the Kura General Hospital.

Former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ado Salisu, confirmed that many of the victims were still being ferried to the hospital hours after the accident. He remarked on the heavy toll the accident has taken on the local sports community and emphasized the need for improved transportation safety for athletes.

From the side of law enforcement and road safety, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, confirmed the occurrence of the crash but was cautious about providing specific figures. “We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” he said. However, his statement did affirm the seriousness of the situation and the ongoing response by emergency personnel.

The accident has sparked widespread outrage and sorrow on social media, with citizens demanding that authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash. Many have also called on the state government to declare a period of mourning and ensure that the families of the deceased receive the support they desperately need.

Transportation-related incidents involving athletic delegations are unfortunately not uncommon in Nigeria, and this latest tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to enforce stricter safety protocols. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the vehicle involved, road infrastructure, and driver fatigue—factors that often contribute to such catastrophic outcomes.

Government officials and stakeholders in the Nigerian sports community have begun to express their condolences and solidarity with the victims. Messages of sympathy have poured in, with many lamenting the irreplaceable loss of young talents whose futures were abruptly cut short.

Plans are reportedly underway to identify all victims and provide appropriate medical care to the injured. The Kano State government is expected to issue a formal statement and possibly organize a memorial in honor of the athletes whose lives were lost in the line of representing their state with pride and passion.

As families prepare for the burial of their loved ones, and communities come to terms with this enormous loss, the hope remains that concrete measures will be implemented to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur again. The nation watches as Kano grieves, united in sorrow over the lives that were lost too soon.