The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed sorrow over the deaths of 21 athletes from Kano State who were killed in a road accident. The crash occurred at Gadar Yankifi in Garun Malam Local Government Area as the athletes were returning from the National Sports Festival held in Ogun State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that the accident claimed 21 lives, while 11 others sustained injuries. In response to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, and several public figures extended their condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Kano State.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, released a statement on Saturday describing the incident as a painful loss that has affected the student community and the entire country. He noted that the athletes were committed to promoting unity through sports and had represented their state with pride.
Adeyemi extended sympathies to the Governor of Kano State, the State Sports Council, and all those affected. He emphasized that the loss impacts not just the families of the victims but the entire nation. He also called on both federal and state authorities to take steps that will prevent similar tragedies in the future. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent such events from being repeated.
