Twenty-one Kano athletes have been killed in an auto crash on Saturday.
They were returning from the National Sports Festival held in Ogun state.
The incident occurred at the Dakatsalle Bridge, in Kura local government, Kano state.
A bus carrying members of the Kano State contingent reportedly lost control and plunged into the river.
The vehicle was said to be carrying 30 passengers, mostly young athletes and officials, when the crash happened.
The Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Bala Fagge has confirmed the fatality figures.
“As I am speaking to you now, we have counted 19 bodies, the bus, which was carrying 30 persons, including athletes and officials, fell off the bridge.”
“Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the injured have been taken to the Kura General Hospital for medical treatment,” Mr Fagge said.
A former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ado Salisu, also confirmed the accident and the number of casualties.
He said the among the deceased is the son of Salisu Jegu, a sports journalist with Express Radio.
Authorities are expected to begin further investigation into the cause of the crash.
