A devastating road accident has claimed the lives of at least 20 athletes from Kano State who were returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at the Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State. The vehicle, a bus conveying 30 members of the Kano State contingent, reportedly veered off the bridge and plunged into a ditch, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge said, adding that several others were injured and have been evacuated for medical attention.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed that the injured are being treated at the Kura General Hospital.
The Kano Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) acknowledged the accident. However, its spokesman, Abdullahi Labaran, stated that the agency was still verifying details.
“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” Labaran noted.
The heartbreaking loss has sent shockwaves across Kano and Nigeria’s sports community, overshadowing what had been a moment of national celebration and achievement.
