A road traffic accident has claimed the lives of 22 athletes in Nigeria on Saturday, confirms the country’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano state sector command.
According to the statement issued by the sector’s Public Relations Officer, CRC Abdullahi Labaran, the accident happened at Gadar Yankifi in Kano State on Saturday, around 12.30pm. Kano State is located in the northern region of Nigeria, reports Nigerian newspaper the Daily Post.
The bus, a Toyota Coaster Bus KN041 A17 belonging to the state, was reported to have 24 passengers on board at the time, which included 23 men and 1 women—all were adults.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander MB Bature, while expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, reiterated the Corps’ commitment to ensuring safety on our roads. He strongly warned drivers against over-speeding, overloading, and all forms of traffic violations, which remain major contributors to road crashes.
Bature added that safety begins with the individual and is a shared duty of all behind the steering wheel. Following the incident, the Commander said the agency will increase patrol and surveillance as well as public awareness campaigns to avert similar incidents in the future.
The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has said the state will give 1m Nigerian Naira to each of the families of the 22 athletes, as well as other relief items to support them during this period of grieving, during a visit to Nasarawa Hospital, where the bodies of the deceased were deposited.
The tragic accident once again sheds light on the importance of obeying basic road safety in Nigeria, especially on major inter-state highways.