Tragedy struck on the way home from the National Sports Festival as 20 athletes from Kano State lost their lives in a fatal motor accident at Dakatsalle Bridge, located in Kura Local Government Area of the state.
The athletes were returning from the recently concluded Gateway Games held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when their bus reportedly fell off the bridge, leading to catastrophic consequences.
Confirming the incident, Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, revealed that the vehicle was conveying 30 athletes at the time of the accident. So far, 19 bodies have been recovered, and several others have sustained varying degrees of injury.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge said solemnly. He added that efforts were ongoing to transport both deceased and injured athletes to medical facilities for further attention.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, also confirmed the grim news. He noted that victims were still being taken to the Kura General Hospital, where emergency services had been activated to cope with the influx of casualties.
The Federal Road Safety Corps also responded to the scene. According to the Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, the accident was reported to them shortly after it occurred.
“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” Labaran said, indicating that rescue and recovery efforts were still underway.
While the cause of the crash is yet to be officially determined, eyewitnesses at the scene claimed the vehicle lost control before falling from the bridge, which is notorious for traffic accidents.
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This devastating loss has sent shockwaves through the sporting community, as the deceased were young, aspiring athletes who had just competed on a national stage.
Eyewitness videos circulating online showed a mangled vehicle lying below the bridge with first responders and bystanders pulling bodies from the wreckage.
As the community mourns, residents and sports officials are calling for improved safety measures for the transportation of athletes across long distances. Many have questioned whether the bus was in good mechanical condition and whether drivers are given sufficient rest between trips.
There has not yet been an official statement from the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, though sources say he has been briefed and may visit the accident site and affected families.
The Kano State Sports Commission has promised to support the families of the deceased and ensure that the injured receive quality medical care.
This incident adds to the growing concern over road safety in Nigeria, particularly for long-distance travelers and state-sponsored sports contingents.
As of the time of filing this report, a final list of victims was yet to be released, and the total number of deaths may rise.
PunchNewspaper
