Abuja, Nigeria (AP) – A bus collided with a river bridge in northern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 athletes who were returning home from a sports festival, with several other passengers sustaining injuries, according to the governor.
The specifics behind the accident, which occurred on Saturday, remain unclear. The athletes were participants in the Nigerian National Sports Festival held last week in southern Ogun.
Kano Governor Aba Kabir Yusuf reported that the driver seemingly lost control of the bus, leading over 30 passengers to jump off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano Zaria Expressway.
Those who survived the crash were transported to a local hospital for medical care.
Yusuf mentioned that the athletes, alongside coaches and sports officials, represented Kano at the festival, a prominent multi-sport event that unites athletes from 35 states in Nigeria every two years.
The governor has proclaimed a national day of mourning on Monday. Families of the victims are anticipated to receive 1 million naira (approximately $630) along with food assistance, as stated by Aminu Gwarzo, Kano’s lieutenant governor.
Road accidents are a common occurrence in Africa’s most populous country, often attributed to inadequate road conditions and sluggish enforcement of traffic regulations.
In March, at least six people lost their lives near Nigeria’s Abuja capital when a trailer rammed into a parked vehicle and ignited in flames.
Source: apnews.com