The chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of 21 athletes from Kano State.

The athletes lost their lives in a fatal accident while returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games 2025,” held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In his reaction via his spokesperson, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, on behalf of the Northern Governors, Inuwa described the incident as heartbreaking and deeply painful.

Misilli stated that the entire Northern region is grieving the loss of these young and promising athletes who had gone to represent their state and showcase their talents on a national stage.

According to him, the young athletes were more than representatives of Kano State but were shining symbols of hope and promise for the region and the entire nation.

“Their exploits at the sports festival made us proud, and their untimely deaths are a painful reminder of life’s fragility,” he said.

The NSGF chairman extended his heartfelt condolences to his Kano counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the government, and the bereaved families of the victims.

“As a forum, we share in the grief and are committed to standing by the government and people of Kano State as they go through this dark and difficult moment,” he said.

“We pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and for comfort to their families, teammates, and the sports community in Kano and Nigeria at large.”