The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed condolences to the government of Kano State and the families of the 21 athletes who lost their lives in an auto crash at Gadar Yankifi in the Garun Malam Local Government Area of the state.
Reports indicated that the athletes were returning from the just concluded National Sports Festival held in Ogun State before the unfortunate accident on Saturday.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state confirmed that 21 members of the contingent lost their lives while 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), among others, have expressed their condolences to the family, friends and the Kano State Government over the incident.
NANS, in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, on Saturday, described the incident as devastating and a loss to the student community.
He said, “This heartbreaking incident has cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation, particularly the youth and sports communities, as we mourn the untimely demise of these talented individuals who dedicated their lives to representing their state and uplifting the spirit of unity through sports.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, the Kano State Sports Council, and the entire people of Kano at this difficult time.
“The loss of these bright stars is not only a loss to their immediate families but to the nation as a whole.”
He concluded by urging the Federal and state governments to put measures in place to prevent future occurrences of such incidents.
“Furthermore, we urge both state and federal governments to prioritise the safety and welfare of athletes and citizens during travel to and from national events.
“A thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this accident must be carried out to prevent future occurrences,” Adeyemi concluded.
The Punch
