Kano Governor Declares Monday Public Holiday in Tribute to Fallen Athletes

Kano Governor Declares Monday Public Holiday in Tribute to Fallen Athletes

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared Monday a public holiday in honour of the 22 Kano athletes and officials who tragically lost their lives in a road accident while returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In a statement released on Sunday by his spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature, the Governor expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “dark moment” for the people of Kano.

The victims—many of them young athletes—were part of the state’s delegation to the national sporting event. The fatal crash occurred along the Kano–Zaria expressway.

“On behalf of the government and the entire people of Kano State, we send our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the recovery of those injured,” the statement read.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, where he is currently participating in the 2025 Hajj, Governor Yusuf emphasized the emotional weight of the tragedy.

“It is with a deeply saddened heart that I received the news of the accident that claimed the lives of 22 of our promising citizens. This is indeed a painful and heartbreaking loss for our state,” he said.

The Governor appealed for calm and unity among residents during this period of mourning. He also assured the public that the government would provide full support to the families affected.

In a call for collective prayer, Yusuf urged Islamic clerics and faithful within and beyond Kano to remember the departed in their prayers and ask for strength for their loved ones left behind.