Tragedy as 21 Sports Delegates Die While Returning From Ogun Na’tl Sports Festival

News Update

At least 22 members of the Kano State delegation returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun have been confirmed dead after their bus plunged from a bridge at Kura local government area.

The vehicle, which was carrying 35 individuals, including athletes, journalists, and officials, veered off Dakatsalle bridge late Friday night.

The delegation was en route to Kano after concluding their participation in the multi-sport event.

Ado Salisu Gama, one of the survivors, spoke to Newsmen from a hospital bed at Kura General Hospital on Saturday morning, recounting the harrowing incident.

“We were returning from Ogun after the festival. Just before Kura, our bus lost control and fell off the bridge. Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead, including the driver. As I speak, another person has just died here,” he said.

Gama described the chaos and confusion that followed the crash, saying, “It happened so fast. Some died on the spot. Others were groaning in pain. We tried to help each other, but many were already gone.”

Authorities in Kano confirmed the accident and said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.

The Kano State Sports Commission released a brief statement expressing shock and mourning over the loss.

“This is a devastating blow to the state. We are working with relevant authorities to support the victims and their families,” the statement read.

Among the deceased were athletes who had represented Kano in various disciplines, as well as coaches, journalists, medical staff, and sports administrators.

Dr. Halima Yusuf, Medical Director of Kura General Hospital, confirmed that several injured individuals were being treated.

“We received multiple casualties late last night. Some were pronounced dead on arrival, while others are in critical condition,” she stated.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State is expected to visit the hospital and families of the victims later today, according to sources within the Government House.

The National Sports Festival, which concluded earlier in the week in Ogun State, saw Kano State win a total of 29 medals.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a horrific sight, with the bus overturned and bodies scattered across the roadside and in the shallow waters beneath the bridge.

“We rushed there when we heard the noise,” said Abdullahi Musa, a local resident.

“It was a terrible sight. We helped pull out survivors before the authorities arrived.”

Emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, were deployed swiftly, and recovery efforts continued into the early hours of Saturday.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, also confirmed the accident.

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He however said that he could not confirm the number of deaths and injured persons.

“We just received the report of the accident, so, I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” he added.

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