The Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has donated the sum of ₦22 million to the families of 22 Kano athletes who lost their lives in a tragic road accident on May 31, 2025.
During a condolence visit to the bereaved families at the Gwagwarwa Juma’at Mosque in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Senator Jibrin expressed deep sorrow over the loss and described the incident as a devastating tragedy for both the state and the nation.
“Today, we mourn not only as individuals but as a community and a nation. The lives of promising athletes have been cut short in a manner that has shaken us all. May Almighty Allah forgive their shortcomings and grant them Aljannatul Firdausi,” he said.
Senator Jibrin announced a personal donation of ₦1 million to each of the affected families to support them in the aftermath of their loss. He emphasized that the gesture, though unable to replace the deceased, was a token of solidarity and compassion.
He was accompanied by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Atta, and the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission, Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji.
The delegation was received by religious and community leaders, including Sheikh Adda’u Aliyu, the Chief Imam of Gwagwarwa Mosque, and local ward leaders. The clerics and elders commended the Deputy Senate President for the visit and the financial support.
The tragic accident, which occurred while the athletes were returning from a regional sports tournament, has sparked nationwide calls for enhanced safety protocols for sporting delegations and better transport infrastructure.
An official investigation into the cause of the accident is currently underway.