A tragic accident has claimed the lives of 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent following a horrific bus crash at Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area, Kano State.
The athletes were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when the accident occurred on Saturday. According to reports, a bus transporting 30 athletes plunged off the bridge, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
Umar Fagge, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, confirmed the incident. “As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge initially stated, adding that rescue operations were still underway.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed that victims were being taken to the Kura General Hospital for treatment.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, verified the accident, although full details of the cause are still being investigated.