21 Kano athletes, officials die in road crash after sports festival

A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of at least 21 athletes and officials from Kano State who had participated in the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

The fatal crash occurred on Saturday morning around 8 a.m. at Daka Tsalle Bridge in the Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus carrying the victims somersaulted after hitting a pothole, resulting in immediate fatalities and multiple injuries.

An official on the trip, Ado Salisu, confirmed that 19 people died on the spot, while two others later died at Kura General Hospital.

He added that more than 10 passengers sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

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Among the deceased is Galadima Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the Kano State Sports Council.

Salisu noted that arrangements are being made to return the bodies to their families.

“The scene was devastating. We lost some of our best athletes and dedicated officials,” Salisu said.

Reports indicate that the accident affected only one of the 31 buses transporting the Kano delegation from Ogun State.

The remaining 30 buses arrived safely in Kano after departing Ogun on Thursday night.

The tragic incident has thrown the Kano sports community into mourning, with many calling for urgent attention to road safety and infrastructure to prevent future occurrences.