In the early hours of Saturday afternoon, a deadly collision on the Kano–Kaduna highway claimed 22 lives, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The victims were members of the Kano State team returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
The delegation had set out late Thursday night, immediately following the conclusion of the festival. Ado Salisu, one of the survivors, told reporters that the crash occurred just hours before they were due back in Kano.
Around 12:30 p.m., near Gadar Yankifi in Garun Malam Local Government Area, a Toyota Coaster bus (registration KN041 A17) carrying 32 people—31 men and one woman—crashed. Of those on board, 22 died at the scene, while the others sustained varying injuries. “Both the injured passengers and the bodies of those who perished have been transported to Nasarawa Specialist Hospital in Kano,” said CRC Abdullahi Labaran, the FRSC’s Kano Sector Command public relations officer.
Initial inquiries suggest factors such as excessive speed, driver fatigue, or mechanical failure may have contributed, but investigations are ongoing. Corps Commander MB Bature of the FRSC Kano Sector Command expressed profound grief over the incident: “This is a heartbreaking loss of lives. We extend our condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”
Commander Bature seized the opportunity to remind motorists of the FRSC’s dedication to road safety and accident prevention. “We strongly urge drivers to avoid dangerous behaviors like speeding, overloading, and ignoring traffic regulations. Such actions continue to trigger needless tragedies on our roads,” he stated.
In light of this accident, FRSC officials announced plans to step up patrols and public-awareness efforts aimed at promoting safer driving habits. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Every motorist must play a part in keeping our roads secure,” CRC Labaran added.
The identities of those who died have not yet been released pending next-of-kin notification. Eyewitnesses at the scene described chaos, with bystanders and first responders rushing in to help before emergency services arrived. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the precise cause of the crash.
