The party was nearing the end of their journey home when the event occurred in Dakatsalle town, some 50 kilometers from Kano.
Driver Abdurrahman Muhammed, Judo Association, Kano organising secretary Abdul’aziz Auwalu, driver Nasiru Adam, Kano State Sports Commission public relations officer Ibrahim Salisu, food services unit Bashir Bello, team doctor Imamumalik Umar, photographer Bilal Salisu (Jegus Photography), mechanic Ashiru Shu’aibu, doctor Abdussamad Rabiu, doctor Abubakar Isma’il Yakubu, kickboxer Usaini Garba, and wrestler Bello Muhammed, wrestling organising secretary.
Other participants included kickboxers Isah Usman Aliyu and Isah Ibrahim; kickboxer coach Abdullahi Saleh Trigger; and organizing secretary Nasiru Abdullahi.
Assistant coach Aminu Muhammad; boxing instructor Shehu Saidu; assistant boxing coach Usman Muhammad; kickboxer Sani Yusuf; assistant coach Muhammad Aminu (Alaja); and commission employee Hamal Dahiru.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the survivors described what transpired prior to their car swerving off the road and collapsing down the bridge.
The kickboxing team’s captain, Aminu Idris Abdullahi, stated: “We were just talking when everything changed.” It was all over in a flash.
Dorathy Okwuzuluike, a female athlete, recalled firmly grasping the seat prior to “everything going blank.”
Holding the chair firmly was the only thing I could do. She described, “I woke up in the hospital.”
Khatimu Hussaini, another survivor, stated that she was unable to adequately describe what transpired.
“All of a sudden, we found ourselves going down under the bridge,” she recalled. I swiftly pushed a woman back when I noticed that she was going to be crushed by the car. I dragged someone else, too. However, I simply lay down and began sobbing in agony at that moment.
Umar Farouk, the head of the Kano Sports Commission, clarified that as the games went on, the commission had cut back on the number of athletes.
This final bunch was all that was left. First in Lokoja and then in Abuja, they experienced mechanical problems. I had conversations with a few of them on Saturday morning. “I got the tragic call an hour later,” he continued.
Families converse
“We were informed that the vehicle crashed off the bridge,” said Bashir Abubakar, the brother of Nazifi Abubakar, who was also hurt. We looked across hospitals before locating him. He is currently recovering.
According to the late Imamumalik Umar’s brother, Mahmud Umar Yakubu, “God took him.” He was a good youngster who was kind and obedient.
Bilal Salisu Jegus’s older sister, Aisha, said her brother was a confidant and a highly respectful sibling.
Even when they were in Ogun State, we occasionally spoke on the phone, but the last time I saw him in person was five weeks ago when they were getting ready for the trip.
“He was my confidant; he was a person you could always rely on when you needed someone.”
“God loves him more than we do, but we will truly miss him.” Since nobody can avoid fate when it strikes, we will keep praying for him,” she said.
ALSO READ:
Fitch Raises The National Rating to “A+(nga)” And Maintains First Bank at “B.”
