One of the Kano State athletes at the recently concluded 22nd National Sports Festival, “Gateway 2025,” has expressed gratitude for the gift of life and a second chance.
Dorothy Okwuzuluike, a kickboxer, was among eight survivors of a ghastly auto crash that claimed the lives of 22 members of the Kano contingent.
The athletes had given their all during the 15-day event, securing various medals for Kano State.
However, tragedy struck as they were returning home. The Guardian learnt that the accident occurred early Saturday at Daka Tsalle town, approximately 50 kilometres from Kano, after the group had travelled overnight from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Recounting her experience from her hospital bed at Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital, Kano, Okwuzuluike said the journey turned tragic unexpectedly. “I was part of those that represented Kano State at the sports festival. As we were coming back from Ogun State, we had a stopover twice due to technical issues. First, we stopped at Lokoja, and later in Abuja,” she said. “The bus was fixed, and we resumed our journey. All I remember is that the bus suddenly left the road. That was the last thing I remembered before finding myself in the hospital.”
The victims included drivers, doctors, and coaches. Among them were Sani Yusuf, a 24-year-old kickboxer who won a silver medal by defeating his Ogun State opponent, and others such as Abdurrahman Muhammed (driver), Abdul’aziz Auwalu (organising secretary of the Kano Judo Association), and Ibrahim Salisu (Public Relations Officer, Kano State Sports Commission).
Also listed were Bashir Bello (food services unit), Imamumalik Umar (team doctor), Bilal Salisu (photographer), Ashiru Shu’aibu (mechanic), Abdussamad Rabiu (team doctor), Abubakar Isma’il Yakubu (team doctor), Bello Muhammed (wrestling organising secretary), Usaini Garba (kickboxer), and several others, including kickboxers and coaches.
Garba Shehu, Director of Sports (Technical), Kano Sports Commission, described the incident as tragic, noting that the affected bus was the last of eight buses transporting over 200 contingent members. “The accident occurred when more than 70 per cent of the contingents had already returned to Kano,” Shehu explained.
He added, “The total number of contingents was about 200, and we spent 14 to 15 days at the event.
Unfortunately, we lost 22 people in the accident. Eight others sustained injuries and are now recuperating at the hospital.”
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