Twenty-one members of the Kano State contingent returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have died in a fatal road crash that occurred on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The accident happened around 12:30 p.m. along the Kano–Kaduna highway, specifically at Gadar Yankifi in the Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State. The victims, mostly athletes, were traveling in a Toyota Coaster bus with registration number KN041 A17, which belongs to the Kano State Government.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which responded to the scene, confirmed that 32 persons were on board the vehicle — 31 males and one female. Of this number, 21 were killed in the crash, while the remaining 11 sustained various degrees of injuries.
In an official statement issued through its spokesperson, CRC Abdullahi Labaran, the FRSC said: “The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano State Sector Command regrets to announce a fatal road traffic crash that occurred today, Saturday 31st May, 2025, at approximately 1230hrs along the Kano–Kaduna Road, precisely at Gadar Yankifi in Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State.”
The crash was described as a lone accident — the only vehicle involved was the Coaster bus, which, according to preliminary findings, lost control due to overspeeding and fell off the road, crashing into a ditch. The impact of the fall and the speed at which the vehicle was moving resulted in instant fatalities.
FRSC officials evacuated the deceased to the mortuary at Nasarawa Specialist Hospital in Kano. The injured victims were also taken to the same facility for urgent medical treatment. Officials at the hospital confirmed that some of the victims sustained serious injuries requiring intensive care.
The Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, who was among the first to confirm the tragedy, said the bus was transporting athletes who had competed at the National Sports Festival. He explained that the accident took place at Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area, which lies along the return route to Kano.
“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge said during an initial interview, before the death toll was officially updated to 21.
Fagge noted that many others were badly injured and expressed concern about the conditions of the survivors. He described the incident as one of the darkest moments for the state’s sporting community. The athletes, he said, had gone to represent Kano with pride and were returning home after fulfilling their duty when tragedy struck.
The accident has triggered widespread sorrow and mourning in Kano and across the country. Families of the deceased have been notified, while the state government is yet to issue an official statement on plans for burials or compensation. Sources within the commission say emergency meetings are being held to address the situation.
Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also confirmed the incident. He said some of the victims were transported to Kura General Hospital shortly after the crash, before being moved to Kano city for more comprehensive care.
In its statement, the FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Mohammed Bature, extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and warned against dangerous driving practices. He stressed that overspeeding, overloading, and other violations remain major causes of fatal accidents on Nigerian roads.
FRSC officials also said they would continue to intensify patrols, surveillance, and public safety campaigns to reduce road crashes across the country. According to them, the accident is yet another reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility and all drivers must play their part.
The National Sports Festival, held every two years, brings together athletes from across Nigeria to compete in various sporting events. For Kano, what should have been a celebratory return has instead turned into a mass tragedy. The mood in the state is somber, with tributes pouring in for the athletes whose lives were cut short.
