22 athletes killed in tragic bus crash in Nigeria
- A bus carrying over 30 passengers veered off a bridge in Kano, Nigeria, resulting in 22 fatalities, including athletes.
- The athletes were returning from the National Sports Festival when the accident occurred at 12:30 a.m.
- The tragedy highlights the ongoing issues with road safety in Nigeria, prompting government responses and support for affected families.
On Saturday, May 31, 2025, a road accident occurred in Kano, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 individuals, including athletes, coaches, and officials. The victims were returning home from the National Sports Festival held in Ogun State, where they had represented Kano. Eyewitness reports suggest that the bus driver lost control, causing the vehicle to plunge off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway. Some passengers survived but suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization. The Kano State government, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, confirmed the fatalities and the injuries sustained by several other passengers. In response to the tragedy, Yusuf publicly expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and announced a day of mourning for the state. On Monday, residents of Kano would gather to pray and show support for the victims’ families. Additionally, financial assistance of 1 million naira (approximately $630) and food supplies will be allocated to the victims' families. Internally, the incident underscores the concerning frequency of road accidents in Nigeria, often attributed to poor infrastructure and lax enforcement of traffic regulations. Authorities from Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps indicated that the crash may have resulted from driver fatigue and excessive speed. Despite these ongoing issues, the tragic death of athletes highlights the human cost associated with transportation failures and the need for improved safety measures on Nigerian roads. The significance of this event reverberates beyond the immediate tragedy, as these athletes carried the hopes of their community, having participated rigorously in the National Sports Festival, which seeks to foster sports development in Nigeria. The National Sports Commission remarked on the loss not only as a blow to the families involved but also as a tragic loss for the country’s athletic community, which invests significantly in nurturing sporting talent. As the news of this calamity spreads, it captures the grief of a nation mourning its lost youth and future potential in sports.