KANO, Nigeria — A devastating road accident has claimed the lives of at least 20 athletes from Kano State, who were returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when their bus plunged off Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area, northern Nigeria.
According to Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, the fatal crash occurred on Saturday as the team of approximately 30 athletes was en route home. Fagge confirmed that 19 bodies had been recovered at the scene, with several others sustaining serious injuries.
“The bus fell off the bridge, and the impact was catastrophic,” Fagge said. “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies.”
The athletes were part of the Kano contingent that participated in the recently concluded National Sports Festival—a biennial multi-sport event showcasing some of Nigeria’s finest young athletic talents. Their tragic return has sent shockwaves across the Nigerian sports community, prompting an outpouring of grief and urgent calls for improved road safety for traveling athletes.
Ado Salisu, a former vice president of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said that emergency services were quickly mobilized and that injured victims were being transported to Kura General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano State has acknowledged the crash. Abdullahi Labaran, the FRSC Public Relations Officer, confirmed that a report had been received but noted that official casualty figures were still being verified.
“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” Labaran said.
The tragedy has cast a pall over the sporting community in Kano State and across Nigeria, with many expressing sorrow over the untimely deaths of young athletes. It also raises concerns about the safety protocols for team travel to and from national events, particularly across Nigeria’s often dangerous intercity roadways.
Government officials and sports administrators are expected to release formal statements and possibly initiate an investigation into the cause of the accident, including possible vehicle malfunction or road conditions at Dakatsalle Bridge.
