Our reporter
A tragic road accident has rocked the Kano State sports community, claiming the lives of several athletes and officials returning from the recently concluded 22nd National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to reports, the fatal crash occurred early on Saturday at the Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area, approximately 50 kilometres from Kano city. The bus, carrying members of the Kano State contingent—including athletes, coaches, journalists, and officials—reportedly lost control and plunged off the bridge. While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, initial accounts suggest the vehicle may have struck a pothole.
Casualty figures remain unclear, with various reports putting the death toll between 19 and 22. The Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Bala Fagge, confirmed that the bus had approximately 30 occupants at the time of the crash. Several injured passengers have been taken to Kura General Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Among those confirmed dead is the son of Salisu Jegu, a sports journalist with Express Radio, underlining the personal toll this disaster has taken on both the sporting and media communities in Kano.
The accident has cast a pall over what had been a celebratory return journey for Team Kano, who finished 13th overall at the National Sports Festival with a respectable medal haul of six gold, 13 silver, and 10 bronze.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed his sorrow over the incident, describing the athletes as “the very best of our nation—dedicated, talented, and full of promise.” He called for the immediate implementation of stricter road safety measures to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
As rescue efforts continue and authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, the nation mourns the loss of young lives full of potential—lives cut short in the service of sport and state.
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