Cliff Notes – Over 20 athletes killed in bus crash after festival
- A tragic bus accident in Kano, Nigeria, resulted in the deaths of at least 21 athletes returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun state.
- The accident, attributed to possible driver fatigue and excessive speed, occurred when the bus lost control on the Chiromawa Bridge, injuring several passengers.
- In response, local authorities have declared a day of mourning and pledged financial assistance to the victims’ families.
Over 20 athletes killed in bus crash after festival
At least 21 athletes were killed on Saturday after the bus they were travelling on drove off a bridge in the northern Nigerian state of Kano, the state governor said.
The athletes were returning home from the National Sports Festival that they had been participating in for the previous week in Ogun state, in the country’s southwest.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said that the driver of the bus appeared to lose control while crossing over the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway.
Several other passengers were injured in the crash.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the accident may have been the result of “fatigue and excessive speed” following a long overnight journey.
Footage after the accident showed a mangled bus underneath a bridge.
Athletes returning from Nigeria’s National Sports Festival
More than 30 passengers were on board at the time. The survivors were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Monday has been declared a day of mourning in Kano. The deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzu, said that the families of the victims would be given 1 million naira (around $630, €550) as well as food supplies.
The athletes had been representing their state in the festival which takes place every two years, allowing competitors from Nigeria’s 35 states to take part in multi-sports events, including wheelchair basketball and traditional west African wrestling.
President Bola Tinubu said of the festival that it represented “the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation.”
Poor road conditions and a casual enforcement of traffic rules make road accidents a common occurrence in Nigeria.
The FRSC recorded 9,570 road accidents and 5,421 deaths last year.
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Sources
Bus plunges off bridge in northern Nigeria, killing 22 athletes – Al Jazeera
National Sports Festival: NNPP’s Ajadi condoles with Governor Yusuf on death of Kano Athletes – Premium Times Nigeria
Gateway Games: Governor Abiodun Mourns Kano Athletes Killed In Accident – Channels Television