A devastating motor accident has claimed the lives of at least 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at the Dakatsalle Bridge, located in the Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
The athletes were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, the accident involved a bus conveying approximately 30 athletes. The vehicle reportedly lost control and plunged off the bridge, resulting in a catastrophic scene. Rescue operations commenced immediately, but the severity of the crash left little hope for many on board.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, provided a grim update. “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” he stated somberly.
He further added that the death toll could rise, as some of the injured athletes were in critical condition. “Many other athletes sustained various degrees of injuries,” Fagge revealed, describing the event as one of the darkest days in the history of Kano’s sports community.
In a similar vein, Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), corroborated the account. He noted that efforts were ongoing to transport injured victims to the Kura General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
According to him, the local community and emergency services have been working tirelessly to provide support and assistance.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, also confirmed the accident. Speaking to the press, the Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, acknowledged receiving the report but refrained from confirming the exact number of fatalities or injuries. “We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” he said, noting that investigations were ongoing.
The accident has sent shockwaves throughout the state and beyond, with many expressing grief over the loss of young, promising athletes who had represented their state at a national level. Families of the victims, sports stakeholders, and government officials are all grappling with the immense tragedy.
As rescue operations continue and more details emerge, there are increasing calls for improved safety measures for athlete transportation, especially during long-distance travels to national events.