A tragic incident has shaken the sports community in Nigeria, as no fewer than 20 promising athletes from Kano State lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident while returning home from the 2025 edition of the National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games, which was recently held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The fatal crash occurred on Saturday at the notorious Dakatsalle Bridge located in the Kura Local Government Area of Kano State. The athletes, who had participated in various sporting events during the national festival, were said to be full of excitement and hope for the future. However, tragedy struck when the bus they were traveling in lost control and veered off the bridge into a ditch.
According to reports from multiple sources, the vehicle was conveying a total of 30 athletes when the accident happened. The impact was so severe that several passengers were thrown out of the bus, with some dying on the spot. Others succumbed to their injuries shortly after.
In an official statement, the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, confirmed the heartbreaking event and expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of young and vibrant lives. “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” he said, emphasizing the magnitude of the tragedy and the grief that now hangs over the entire state. He also added that several other athletes were critically injured and are receiving medical attention.
Eyewitnesses and local residents who rushed to the scene recounted scenes of chaos and despair as they assisted emergency responders in pulling victims from the wreckage. Many of the deceased athletes were reportedly teenagers and young adults, with bright futures in sports and academics.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), revealed that some of the injured victims were immediately transported to the Kura General Hospital for emergency treatment. He noted that efforts were ongoing to reach the families of the deceased and injured to inform them of the unfortunate event.
Meanwhile, the Kano Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abdullahi Labaran, confirmed the crash but noted that the agency was still working on verifying the total number of casualties and those who sustained injuries. He stressed the need for calm and urged the public to allow the authorities time to conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the accident.
This incident has sparked an outpouring of condolences and tributes on social media, with many Nigerians expressing their heartbreak and calling for urgent government intervention to improve road safety, especially for athletes and officials who frequently travel long distances to represent their states and the country.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may the injured recover swiftly.