A pall of grief has descended following the Kano Athletes Fatal Crash after the NSF Gateway Games 2024, with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) now revealing the likely culprits behind the devastating loss of 21 lives.

The agency has attributed the tragedy on the Kaduna-Kano expressway to driver fatigue and excessive speed, particularly during nighttime travel, Hitvibz reports.

Unravelling Kano Athletes’ Involvement in Fatal Crash After Gateway Games

The horrific incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, just after the Kano State delegation departed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they had participated in the recently concluded NSF Gateway Games 2024.

Their Kano State Government-owned Coaster bus, bearing registration number KN 041 A17, veered off the road near Gadar Yankifi.

FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide reported that the bus was carrying 24 passengers.

Tragically, 21 of them, all male adults, perished at the scene. The three survivors, including the sole female passenger, were rushed to a hospital for urgent medical attention.

“While three of the victims — two male adults and one female adult — were rescued to the hospital with injuries, the remaining 21 victims, all male adults, were kill*d as of the time of the press release,” the FRSC confirmed the grim toll in its statement as quoted by nairasports.

The victims were members of Team Kano, returning from the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival.

Among the lost were athletes from wrestling and kickboxing, referees, journalists, sports officials, a public relations officer, medical staff, and two drivers.

The community mourns the loss, including that of Imam Umar Fagge, a football referee and brother of the acting chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge.

FRSC’s Findings on the NSF Gateway Games 2024 Tragedy

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed conveyed his deepest condolences to the grieving families and the Kano State Government.

He emphasised the critical importance of adhering to road safety regulations to prevent such heartbreaking incidents.

The Corps Marshal noted that the Kano Athletes’ fatal crash likely resulted from fatigue and excessive speed following a long night journey after the NSF Gateway Games 2024.

In response to the tragedy, the Corps Marshal urged fleet and commercial vehicle operators to ensure their drivers get adequate rest and strictly adhere to speed limits, especially during nighttime travel when visibility is reduced.

He stressed the broader need for enhanced road safety awareness among all road users, from government bodies to individual motorists, advocating for regular vehicle maintenance, avoiding speeding, and ensuring drivers are well-rested before long journeys.

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Last Updated on June 1, 2025 10:30 am by Hitvibz Media