Several athletes lost their lives in a tragic accident in Nigeria on Saturday.
According to reports, 22 people perished in the tragedy, with athletes and coaches among those killed while traveling from the National Sports Festival in Northern Nigeria.
It’s understood that many of the victims were young. The athletes had represented Kano State at said festival before the fatal accident.
“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,” Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said in a statement, per the Nigeria National Sports Commission.
He added:
“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.”
“Fatigue And Excessive Speed” Likely To Blame For Tragic Accident That Killed 22
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The accident only involved one vehicle, with “fatigue and excessive speed” suspected to be the cause. According to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps, the crash happened at 12:30 a.m. local time on Saturday morning (7:30 p.m. ET).
An Instagram post said the athletes were killed while returning home after “representing their state with distinction.”
NSC chairperson Mallam Dikko said that the victims “carried the hope of a brighter future for our nation through their passion and commitment to excellence in sports,” adding, “It is our duty to ensure such heroes are never forgotten.”
TPS extends condolences to the many families impacted by this awful tragedy.
