Kano Athletes’ Auto Crash: Survivors Narrate Narrow Escape, Death Of Victims

Some survivors of the May 31, 2025 auto crash involving 22 athletes and officials of the Kano State Sports Commission have narrated how they narrowly escaped and how the accident occurred.

They said the crash took place at about 12:30pm at Gadar Yankifi in Garun Malam local government area of Kano State when the team was returning from the National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

One of the survivors, who identified himself as Ibrahim Ado, a wrestling coach, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that on arriving close to Dakastalle, the driver entered into a slope and galloped, which forced the bus to bounce up, causing him to lose control of the steering.

Ado said the tyre on the driver’s side swerved the vehicle into a ditch while the other was on the road.

He said the driver did his best to regain control of the vehicle but couldn’t as the bus drifted on the shoulders of the road to the bridge before it fell off the facility to the ground.

“My eyes were opened and I kept on saying Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiun. Thereafter, I saw myself on the ground under the bridge. Then I thanked God for the narrow escape,” Ado stated.

On the number of the occupants of the vehicle when the accident occurred, Ado said they were 33 that left Ogun, adding that two of them alighted in Kaduna while another one disembarked in Zaria, leaving 30 of them in the bus.

Another survivor, Aminu Idris Abdullahi, the captain of the kickboxing team, said, “We were just chatting when everything changed. It happened suddenly.”

A female athlete, Dorathy Okwuzuluike, said she held the seat firmly and later woke up to see herself in the hospital.

 

Family Members Recall Last Moments With Victims

Meanwhile, some of the family members of the deceased have recalled their last moments with them

The wife of Bello Mohammed Dan Kano (victim), Bilkisu, told our correspondent that she received the news of her husband’s death with shock.

According to her, they communicated around 9.30am when the deceased informed her that they were in Abuja.

She said he requested his son to pick him at the sports commission but after waiting for long, he returned home only to hear of the sad news around 3:30pm.

Similarly, the wife of Nasiru Adudullahi (victim), Ummi, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that during a phone chat with her late husband, he told her that he would be in Kano within 30 minutes.

She said, “While we were talking, I heard a loud sound, then the call ended and I called back and heard switched-off. I called his second line and nobody picked it. I called back at 3pm, yet there was no response, so I decided to call some of his friends who promised to return my call but never did until a relative who is a vehicle inspection officer (VIO), confirmed to me that there was a road crash involving the team.”

Ummi, a mother of four, said she has received a donation of N1 million, three bags of rice, two bags of Semovita, a ram and spaghetti from the state government as support for the family.

Also, Maryam Aminu, the pregnant wife of Alaja, said she spoke with her husband while they were in Zaria.

After that she called five times and there was no response from him, adding that “I heard the heartbreaking news at 5.00pm.”

The expectant mother, who already has a child, acknowledged receiving support from the state government.

State Government’s Interim Interventions

 

Immediately the accident occurred, Governor Abba Yusuf honoured the victims by declaring the next Monday as a public holiday to sympathise with their families.

The state government also announced a donation of N1 million and food items to each of the bereaved families.

Stakeholders Proffer Measures To Curb Crashes

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sports industry have described the incident as a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Abuja Branch), Kelechi Onwudiwe, said, “The road accident involving Kano State athletes who represented the state at the just-concluded 22nd National Sports Festival has sent shockwaves through the sports community,” stressing the need for strident measures to prevent such tragedies.

“We must work with the relevant authorities to identify the root causes of this accident and implement measures to curb them.

“To prevent future accidents, we recommend regular vehicle inspections, strict adherence to traffic regulations, and training programmes for drivers transporting athletes.

“Additionally, we urge athletes to prioritise their safety by being mindful of their surroundings and taking necessary precautions when travelling. By working together, we can reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the well-being of our athletes,” he said.

On what should be done in their memory, Onwudiwe asked the Kano State government to establish a memorial fund to support their families and assist in the education and welfare of their children.

“Build a monument or plaque to commemorate the lives lost in the accident, provide emotional and financial support for the families of the victims and invest in road safety infrastructure, such as speed cameras and crash barriers to prevent future accidents,” he said.

On his part, Tolu Ogundeji, a sports marketing strategist, advocated for the strict enforcement of vehicle roadworthiness checks. “Also, any official trip involving athletes should have proper planning, emergency response protocols, and possibly security or medical escorts. Lastly, night travel for such groups should be discouraged.

“The loss of these young, promising athletes is heartbreaking and must not go unnoticed. The Kano State government should create a memorial, either a monument or a dedicated sports facility, to honour their legacies.

“Importantly, the government should provide financial and psychological support for the families, not just a one-time token, but continued engagement. The families need to be seen, heard and cared for,” Ogundeji said.

 

Profile Of The Victims

 

 Abdurrahman Muhammad (Driver)

He was the senior driver of the ill-fated bus and a staff member of the Kano State Sports Commission. The deceased left behind a wife and children.

 

Muhammad Aminu Alias Alaja (Kickboxer)

He was in his early 30s and married with one child and expecting a second child before his demise.

 

Abdul’aziz Auwalu (Organising Secretary)

He was about 30 years old and served as the organising secretary of the Kano State Judo Association and an employee of the sports commission.

 

Nasiru Adamu (Supporting Driver)

He served as a driver with the sports commission, married and blessed with children.

 

Ibrahim Salisu Galadima (Public Relations Officer)

The deceased was the public relations officer of the Kano State Sports Commission. He was in his mid-30s and married with children.

 

Bashir Bello Alias Yar Gaya (Organising Secretary)

Bello was the organising secretary of the Kano State Basketball Team. He had a wife and children.

 

Imamumalik Umar (Physiotherapist)

Before his demise, Umar was a physiotherapist and part of the Kano State Ministry of Health medical team. He was 35 years old, married to a wife and had two children.

 

Bilal Salisu (Photographer)

Salisu was the contingent’s photographer and a member of staff of Jegus Media Services.

 

Ashiru Shu’aibu (Mechanic)

Shu’aibu was the sports commission’s mechanic. He left behind a wife and children.

 

Abdussamad Rabiu (Medical Staff)

He was part of the medical team and had a wife and children.

 

Abubakar Isma’il Yakubu (Medical Staff)

The deceased was part of the contingent’s medical team from the Ministry of Health. He is survived by two wives and children.

 

Bello Muhammad (Organising Secretary)

Until his death, Muhammadd was the organising secretary of wrestling association and a member of staff of the sports commission. He had a wife and children.

 

Usaini Garba (Wrestler)

He served as a wrestler with the sports commission and was married with children.

 

Isah Usman Aliyu (Wrestler)

Aliyu was a wrestler and an employee of the sports commission.

 

Isah Ibrahim (Kickboxer)

He was a kickboxer and a member of staff of the sports commission. Ibrahim was married with children.

 

Abdullahi Saleh Alias Trigger (Coach)

was the coach of kickboxing. He is survived by three children.

Nasiru Abdullahi (Organising Secretary)

He served as the organising secretary of the kickboxing team in the sports commission. The 45-year-old had a wife and four children.

 

Sani Abdullahi Bahago (Kickboxer)

The victim was a kickboxer and was married with children.

 

Shehu Saidu (Kickboxing Coach)

He was married but yet to have a child before the incident.

 

Usman Muhammad (Wrestler)

He served the commission as a wrestler and was married with children.

 

Sani Yusuf (Kickboxer)

He was a kickboxer and a silver medalist at the Gateway Games. His marriage was just four weeks old before his death.

 

 Haruna Dahiru (Kickboxer)

He worked with the sports commission and also as a kickboxer