The National Sports Festival has ended badly for ‘Team kano’ as tragedy hits on their way back to base. At least 20 athletes from the State contingent have been confirmed dead following a tragic motor accident at Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government Area of the state.
The athletes were returning to Kano from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when the fatal incident happened.
Confirming the heartbreaking development, the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, said the accident claimed the lives of 20 athletes, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
He narrated how it happened; “The bus conveying 30 athletes fell from the bridge, leading to the death of the 20 athletes,” Fagge explained.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” he added.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed the tragedy and stated that injured victims were still being transported to Kura General Hospital for treatment.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, acknowledged the accident but could not verify the total number of casualties.
“It is true. We just received the report of the accident, but, I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” he said.
Team Kano won 2 Silver and two Bronze medals in the competition. As more details emerge, the public will be notified.
