AT least 19 people, including journalists, athletes, and sports administrators, have died in a tragic motor accident involving the Kano State contingent returning from the Gateway Games which ended in Ogun State on Friday, May 30.
The fatal crash occurred as the team was returning from the national sporting event, and approaching their destination on Saturday, May 31.
In a social media post by a radio station in Kano, Premier Radio 102.7, the accident was said to have occurred in Dakatsalle Bridge, Kura Local Government Area when a bus carrying 35 members of the team plunged off a bridge.
Similarly, a report by Daily Nigerian noted that more than 10 people sustained severe injuries in the accident.
According to an official on the trip who spoke to the newspaper, Ado Salisu, the crash occurred at Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government Area when the bus hit a pothole and somersaulted.
Salisu said that 19 athletes and officials died on the spot, while two others later passed away at Kura General Hospital.
The 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games 2025,” kicked off on May 16 and concluded on May 30, drawing athletes from across Nigeria to compete in various sports.
The festival is Nigeria’s premier sporting event, designed to foster unity and discover emerging talents across the country.
The concluding part of the event had former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the state Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Efforts by The ICIR to speak with the Kano Police PRO Abdullahi Haruna and the Commissioner of Information Ibrahim Wayya on the tragedy proved abortive.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M