At least 21 athletes and officials from Kano State have died in a tragic road accident while returning from the National Sports Festival held in Ogun State, c. The fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 2, 2025, in the Kura area of Kano State, when their official state bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a ravine.
The vehicle was reportedly carrying 35 passengers, mostly young athletes and sports officials. According to Umar Faggie, Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, the bus lost control due to suspected brake failure. Emergency services responded swiftly, and 14 survivors were rushed to various hospitals in Kano for treatment—some in critical condition.
The National Sports Festival, often dubbed Nigeria’s “Mini Olympics,” is the country’s largest multi-sport event, bringing together athletes from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This year’s edition, hosted in Abeokuta, Ogun State, concluded just days before the accident.
President Bola Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf have both expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged full investigations into the incident. Governor Yusuf has declared three days of mourning in the state and ordered an immediate audit of all government-owned transport used for official assignments. This accident underscores the persistent challenges of road safety in Nigeria, particularly concerning the use and maintenance of public transport vehicles.
