Kano, Nigeria – At least 20 athletes from Kano State have been confirmed dead following a horrific bus crash in the Kura Local Government area of Kano State. The accident occurred at Dakatsalle Bridge on Saturday, as the athletes were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, confirmed the devastating incident, stating that numerous other athletes sustained various degrees of injuries. He explained that the bus, which was conveying 30 athletes, fell from the bridge.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge told reporters.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), added that victims were still being transported to Kura General Hospital.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, also confirmed the accident but stated that he could not immediately provide precise figures for the 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.
Road accidents are a significant concern in Nigeria, often attributed to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and overloaded vehicles. The National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event held in Nigeria, bringing together athletes from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
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