Tragedy Strikes as 19 Kano Contingent Members Die in Auto Crash Returning from National Sports Festival
At least 19 members of the Kano State contingent returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State have died in a tragic road accident.
The fatal crash occurred on the morning of Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, around 9 a.m. According to reports, the victims were traveling in one of eight buses transporting the team back home after the festival.
Eyewitnesses said the bus, carrying around 35 athletes and officials, veered off a bridge and plunged into a ditch near Dakstalle town, approximately 50 kilometers from Kano city.
“We were returning overnight from Ogun after the National Sports Festival. The vehicle that crashed was the last in our convoy of eight,” said Ado Salisu, one of the surviving team members.
The accident led to the death of 19 passengers, while many others sustained serious injuries. The deceased included athletes, journalists, medical staff, and sports administrators. The injured were initially taken to Kura General Hospital for emergency care.
Authorities are now working to transfer the survivors to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for further treatment.
The Kano State team had been in Ogun to participate in the National Sports Festival, a biennial sporting event designed to foster unity and cultural exchange among Nigerian states. The 2025 edition, named the “Gateway Games,” drew participants from across the country, competing in various sporting disciplines.
The mood in Kano has turned somber as families, colleagues, and state officials come to terms with the loss. Condolences are pouring in from across Nigeria’s sports community, and the state government is expected to issue an official statement soon.
