Tragedy struck on Saturday as no fewer than 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent lost their lives in a fatal motor accident while returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The accident, which occurred at the Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, involved a bus conveying about 30 athletes.
The vehicle reportedly plunged off the bridge, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, said, “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies.”
He noted that several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
According to Fagge, the bus was transporting athletes who had represented the state at the sports festival when the incident occurred.
A former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ado Salisu, also corroborated the report, saying that victims were being evacuated to the Kura General Hospital.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, confirmed the crash but said the exact number of casualties had not been ascertained.
“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” he said.
The Gateway Games concluded earlier this week with various states, including Kano, showcasing impressive sporting talents. The festival ended on a high note with musical performances by artistes like K1 and Wande Coal.
This tragic incident, however, has cast a dark cloud over the celebrations, plunging the Kano sports community into mourning.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the deceased athletes, notify their families, and provide medical attention to the survivors .
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