Latest news with #sportsfestival
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
Athletes, coaches and officials among 22 killed in road accident in northern Nigeria
Athletes, coaches and officials are among 22 people killed in a road accident in northern Nigeria as they returned from the country's National Sports Festival on Saturday, local authorities have said. Others were left 'seriously injured' by the accident, 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.' The victims 'carried the hope of a brighter future for our nation through their passion and commitment to excellence in sports,' NSC chairperson Mallam Dikko said. 'It is our duty to ensure such heroes are never forgotten.' Sports clubs including Kano Pillars, Kano's local soccer team, and the Nigeria Tennis Federation have also posted their condolences online. Nigeria's 22nd National Sports Festival was held in Ogun State in the southwest of the country, according to the NSC. After 11 days of events, the competition held its closing ceremony on Thursday, the NSC said. Monday will be a day of mourning for 'the good people of Kano to pray and sympathize with the families of the victims,' its governor announced.
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
Athletes, coaches and officials among 22 killed in road accident in northern Nigeria
Athletes, coaches and officials are among 22 people killed in a road accident in northern Nigeria as they returned from the country's National Sports Festival on Saturday, local authorities have said. Others were left 'seriously injured' by the accident, 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.' The victims 'carried the hope of a brighter future for our nation through their passion and commitment to excellence in sports,' NSC chairperson Mallam Dikko said. 'It is our duty to ensure such heroes are never forgotten.' Sports clubs including Kano Pillars, Kano's local soccer team, and the Nigeria Tennis Federation have also posted their condolences online. Nigeria's 22nd National Sports Festival was held in Ogun State in the southwest of the country, according to the NSC. After 11 days of events, the competition held its closing ceremony on Thursday, the NSC said. Monday will be a day of mourning for 'the good people of Kano to pray and sympathize with the families of the victims,' its governor announced.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bus plunges off bridge in northern Nigeria, killing 22 athletes
A bus crash in Nigeria's northern state of Kano has killed 22 athletes returning home from a national sports event, according to the local governor. The bus, which was reportedly carrying more than 30 passengers, plunged off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway on Saturday, Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf told The Associated Press news agency. The exact cause of the accident was not known, but the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it 'might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed' after a long overnight trip. The survivors of the crash were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Yusuf said the athletes, who were accompanied by their coaches and sporting officials, were representing Kano State at the Nigerian National Sports Festival, held about 1,000km (620 miles) to the south in Ogun State. He declared Monday a day of mourning for the state. His deputy, Aminu Gwarzo, said the families of the victims would receive 1 million naira (about $630) and food supplies as support. The National Association of Nigerian Students released a statement, Nigerian daily The Guardian reported, saying the 'heartbreaking' incident had 'cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation, particularly the youth and sports communities'. Road accidents are common in Africa's most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws. In March, at least six people died near the capital, Abuja, after a trailer crashed into parked vehicles and burst into flames. Last year, Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data. The Nigerian National Sports Festival brings together athletes from the country's 35 states every two years. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu recently said the games, which include sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional West African wrestling, represent 'the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation'.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Bus plunges off bridge in northern Nigeria, killing 22 athletes
A bus crash in Nigeria's northern state of Kano has killed 22 athletes returning home from a national sports event, according to the local governor. The bus, which was reportedly carrying more than 30 passengers, plunged off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway on Saturday, Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf told The Associated Press news agency. The exact cause of the accident was not known, but the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it 'might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed' after a long overnight trip. The survivors of the crash were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Yusuf said the athletes, who were accompanied by their coaches and sporting officials, were representing Kano State at the Nigerian National Sports Festival, held about 1,000km (620 miles) to the south in Ogun State. He declared Monday a day of mourning for the state. His deputy, Aminu Gwarzo, said the families of the victims would receive 1 million naira (about $630) and food supplies as support. The National Association of Nigerian Students released a statement, Nigerian daily The Guardian reported, saying the 'heartbreaking' incident had 'cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation, particularly the youth and sports communities'. Road accidents are common in Africa's most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws. In March, at least six people died near the capital, Abuja, after a trailer crashed into parked vehicles and burst into flames. Last year, Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data. The Nigerian National Sports Festival brings together athletes from the country's 35 states every two years. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu recently said the games, which include sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional West African wrestling, represent 'the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation'.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Road accident in northern Nigeria kills 22 athletes returning from a sports festival
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A bus veered off a bridge in Nigeria's northern state of Kano, killing at least 22 athletes returning home from a sports festival and leaving several other passengers injured, the state's governor said. The cause of the accident, which happened on Saturday, was not immediately known. The athletes had taken part in the Nigerian National Sports Festival in the southern state of Ogun over the last week. The driver appeared to lose control of the bus and the vehicle, with over 30 passengers, plunged off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway, according to Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano. Survivors of the crash were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Yusuf said the athletes, who were accompanied by their coaches and sporting officials, were representing Kano at the sports festival, a major multi-sports event that bringing together athletes from the country's 35 states every two years. The governor declared Monday a day of mourning for the state. The families of the victims are to receive 1 million naira (about $630) and food supplies as support, Kano's deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo, said. Road accidents are frequent in Africa's most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws. In March, at least six people died near Nigeria's capital of Abuja after a trailer crashed into parked vehicles and burst into flames.
