Kano State in Nigeria declared a day of mourning after 22 people died in a road accident while returning from a sports festival in the southwest. Authorities are reviewing road safety measures following the tragedy.

Kano State in northern Nigeria has declared a day of mourning after 22 people, mostly young athletes and sports officials, died in a road crash while returning from a national sports festival in the southwest of the country. The victims were part of the Kano State contingent that had just competed at the National Sports Festival and were heading back home when their bus crashed near Kano.

What happened

Authorities say the state-owned bus, carrying more than 30 people, veered off the road and plunged from a bridge along a highway near the town of Dakatsalle/Chiromawa, not far from Kano city. The crash killed 22 passengers on the spot or shortly after, including athletes, coaches, medical staff, officials and at least one journalist, while several others were seriously injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Official response

Kano State governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced Monday as an official day of mourning and ordered flags flown at half-mast across the state in honour of the victims. State and federal authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash, while emergency support, including financial assistance, has been promised to the families of the deceased and injured.

Suspected cause and safety concerns

Preliminary assessments by Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps suggest that fatigue and excessive speed after a long overnight journey may have contributed to the driver losing control of the vehicle. Road crashes are common in Nigeria and are frequently linked to poor road conditions, speeding, and weak enforcement of traffic regulations, with safety advocates again calling for stricter monitoring of long-distance passenger buses after this latest tragedy.