Anguish has enveloped Kano State, over the fatal accident which claimed the lives of at least 20 athletes who participated in the 2025 national sports fiesta held in Ogun State, while on their way home on Saturday morning.
A vehicle conveying the contingent, was said to have been involved in a ghastly accident at Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government area of Kano State, as the athletes nearly made it back into the state after their participation in the just concluded National Sports Festival, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, who confirmed the incident, said many other athletes sustained various degree of injuries following the fatal accident on Saturday.
Explaining that the bus conveying 30 athletes fell from the bridge, leading to the death of the 20 athletes, he said: “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies.”
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of SWAN, said victims were still being conveyed to Kura General Hospital, while Abdullahi Labaran, spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, also confirmed the accident.
Labaran, He however said that he could not confirm the number of deaths and injured persons, adding: “We just received the report of the accident, so, I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment.”