Tragedy struck on Saturday as 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident at Dakatsalle Bridge, located in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
The athletes, who were part of the team that represented Kano State at the just-concluded Gateway Games, were travelling in a bus that reportedly plunged off the bridge, killing at least 20 of the 30 passengers onboard.
The Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, confirmed the incident, saying most of the passengers were athletes who had just competed in the national event.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge said solemnly, adding that several others sustained serious injuries and are receiving medical attention.
Eyewitnesses said emergency responders and bystanders rushed to the scene to help victims trapped in the wreckage, while injured athletes were transported to the Kura General Hospital.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed that emergency efforts were ongoing and that the casualty figure could rise.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi Labaran, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano, acknowledged the accident but noted that the agency was still verifying the number of deaths and injuries.
“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” Labaran said.
The tragic loss has thrown the Kano sports community and the entire state into mourning. Condolences have begun to pour in from sports associations, officials, and sympathizers across the country.
