By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
They were almost home. Just a few more kilometres, and the chants of victory would have given way to laughter, rest, and reunion with loved ones. Instead, what was meant to be a joyful return from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta turned into one of the darkest days in Kano State’s recent memory.
On the evening of Saturday, May 31, 2025, a bus carrying athletes, officials, and journalists from the Gateway Games crashed at Dakatsalle in Garun Malam Local Government Area. The accident, which occurred barely 50 kilometres from Kano city, claimed at least 21 lives and left several others badly injured.
Among the deceased was Bilal Musa Jengu, a young, passionate sports reporter who was following in the footsteps of his father, veteran journalist Salisu Musa Jengu. Bilal had dreams. He had bylines. He had promise. And now, a father has lost not just a son, but a legacy. This is not just a statistic. It is a wound that cuts deep into the soul of a grieving community.
In the midst of pain, the nation responded with compassion. From Ogun to Kaduna, delegations arrived to share in the grief of Kano. Ogun State, host of the sports festival, sent a team led by Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
She delivered heartfelt condolences from her government and a financial donation of thirty-one million naira to assist the families of the victims. Each affected family is to receive one million naira not as compensation, but as a token of shared humanity.
Kaduna State’s delegation, led by Professor Ben Gugong, included the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, and the National President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Isaiah Benjamin. During a visit to Government House in Kano, Mr. Benjamin did not mince words.
He condemned the apparent systemic neglect of Nigerian athletes, questioning why those who fly the nation’s flag are often left to travel in conditions unworthy of their service. His voice echoed the silent frustrations of many in the sports community; a frustrations buried under medals, chants, and applause.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, currently on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, declared Monday, June 2, as a public holiday in honour of the fallen. His deputy, Comrade Aminu Gwarzo, who received the visiting delegations, offered words of comfort to the families, promising government support and a proper probe into the tragedy.
One of the most touching tributes came from Senator Shehu Sani, who called for the immortalisation of the victims. He proposed naming streets after them and erecting a memorial at the site of the crash.
“They made their last calls. Sent their last messages. They had dreams. They had families waiting for them at home,” he said. “We may never bring them back, but we must never forget them.”
Also lending its voice was the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which released a solemn statement mourning the victims of the Dakatsalle accident. Signed by Professor T. A. Muhammad-Baba, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, the message extended condolences to the Government and people of Kano State.
The Forum called for urgent improvements in safety standards and emergency preparedness, stressing the importance of proactive measures to prevent future tragedies. ACF’s message was more than a press release; it was a call to conscience.
Meanwhile, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has demanded a full investigation into the crash. The association raised alarm over the recurring neglect of athlete safety and urged state governments and the Ministry of Sports to establish risk management protocols for sporting contingents nationwide.
What happened in Dakatsalle is more than an accident. It is a mirror held up to the face of our sports system, a system that celebrates athletes in the stadium but forgets them once the spotlight fades. It is also a reminder that the road back home is not always safe, especially when carelessness, poor logistics, and systemic failure are involved.
As tears continue to flow and condolence registers fill up, Nigeria must decide what kind of country it wants to be: One that only mourns, or one that learns and reforms. These young Nigerians gave their energy, their time, and ultimately, their lives in service to their state. They deserved a safer journey. They deserved to come home.
If their sacrifice is to mean anything beyond the fleeting moments of tribute, then real change must follow. Not just words, not just wreaths but policy, action, and accountability. Anything less would be a second tragedy.