Nigeria’s Kano State declared Monday as a day of mourning after 22 athletes died in a road accident while returning from a sports festival in the south-west of the country.
Athletes, coaches, officials, medical staff and a journalist were among the fatalities when a state bus carrying the team veered off the road and overturned around the town of Dakatsalle, approximately 40km from Kano, on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by Kano’s government office. The majority of the victims were young, it added.
“It is with a deeply saddened heart that I received the tragic news of the unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of 22 innocent citizens and left several others injured,” Abba Kabir Yusuf, governor of Kano State, said in the statement.
“On behalf of the government and the good people of Kano State, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We mourn with you and share in your grief,” he continued.
The accident was a “lone road crash that might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed,” Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps said in a statement. The crash occurred at 12:30 a.m. local time Saturday (7:30 p.m. Friday ET), the statement said.
The athletes killed in the crash were returning home after “representing their state with distinction,” Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC) said in a statement posted to Instagram. The commission said it was “deeply heartbroken” by the “tragic road accident.”
A further nine people were injured in the accident, while one person travelling on the bus did not sustain an injury.
The contingent was making a journey of over 1,000km back from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which had concluded on Friday.
Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), said the accident marked “a very sad day for Nigerian sports”.
“We are heartbroken by this tragedy,” Dikko added in a statement.
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“These were promising athletes and dedicated officials who had just served their state and country with pride. Their loss is immeasurable.”
The National Sports Festival, which marked its 22nd edition this year, is a key event in Nigeria’s sporting calendar and is aimed at promoting unity, youth engagement and national development through athletics.
The accident has cast a shadow over what had been a successful competition for Kano State, with the team collecting a total of 29 medals.
Road safety concerns
Those injured in the accident are still receiving treatment at the Kura General Hospital south of Kano.
Meanwhile, families of the deceased have begun making burial arrangements.
“The families decided that they want to carry their dead bodies and go to the various communities and do the burial,” Ibrahim Umar, the acting director of the Kano State Sports Commission, told BBC Sport Africa.
“The government gave each of the families 1m naira ($632, £467) and gave them foodstuffs.”
Concerns over road safety in Nigerian sports have resurfaced following the crash.
Long-distance road travel, often over distances of hundreds of kilometres, remains the only option for most because of inadequate air travel options and limited funding.
Umar defended the Kano State Sports Commission’s preparations for the trip, declaring that state buses are “in good condition” and that insurance is taken out for all athletes.
The NSC has vowed to strengthen safety protocols for national sporting events in the wake of the accident.
“This incident underscores the pressing need for a unified national policy on travel and welfare,” Dikko’s statement said.
“Moving forward, it is now mandatory for all state contingents to have comprehensive insurance cover, and for all vehicles used for official purposes to be mechanically certified and fully insured.
“These guidelines have been reiterated to all participating states and will be strictly enforced.”
The NSC also pledged continued support for the families of the victims and said a formal investigation into the crash is under way.