A dark cloud hangs over Nigeria’s sports community as twenty-one athletes from Kano State lost their lives in a tragic auto crash while returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival, popularly known as the Gateway Games, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to officials, the fatal incident occurred on Saturday at the Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
The athletes were being conveyed in a state-owned bus operated by the Kano State Sports Commission when the vehicle reportedly veered off the bridge and overturned.
Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Umar Faggie, confirmed the development and described the scene as “devastating.”
He stated that emergency responders and community volunteers acted swiftly to evacuate survivors, who have since been admitted to Kura General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The exact number of injured persons remains unclear as rescue and identification efforts continue.
The loss has triggered an outpouring of grief nationwide. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar took to social media platform X to express his condolences.
He described the deceased as “the very best of our nation—dedicated, talented, and full of promise,” and called for improved safety measures to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
“I am heartbroken by news of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 21 Kano State athletes returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta,” he wrote.
“Their untimely passing is a profound loss not only to their families and the people of Kano but to the entire country.”
Kano State was among the 36 states and the FCT that participated in the Gateway Games, finishing 13th overall with 29 medals—six of which were gold.
