Former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have expressed deep sorrow over the recent tragedies in Niger and Kano states, which claimed over 170 lives combined.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari said he was devastated by the loss of more than 100 lives in flash floods that ravaged Mokwa in Niger State and the death of 22 young athletes, coaches, and officials in a ghastly road crash in Kano.
“I am deeply pained by the loss of lives due to the floods in Niger State and the road accident in Kano State,” Buhari said, extending his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of both states.
Atiku Abubakar also released a statement criticising both federal and state governments for failing to address recurring safety and disaster management challenges.
He described the victims of the Kano crash—young athletes returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta—as the best of the nation, “dedicated, talented, and full of promise,” whose deaths were a loss to the entire country.
“I am heartbroken by news of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 21 Kano State athletes,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones.”
Atiku also raised concerns about the worsening flood situation in Niger State, noting that the death toll from the Mokwa flooding had risen from 21 to over 100 in just days. He called for urgent flood management strategies as Nigeria faces the peak of its rainy season.
Meanwhile, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State described the Kano road accident as a “devastating blow to Nigeria’s sporting community,” offering his condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Kano.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), through its National Publicity Secretary Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, also expressed grief, praying for the recovery of the injured and urging divine support for the affected families.
As of Sunday, the death toll from the Mokwa flooding had climbed to 153, following the recovery of two more bodies by local divers under a bridge. Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman, confirmed that several people remain missing, and search efforts are ongoing.
