• 07 Jun, 2025
• FAITH MIMDOO KEGH
• No comment

Kano Auto Crash Victim’s Wife Gives Birth to Son Six Days After Tragedy.

In a bittersweet turn of events, a baby boy was born on Eid-el-Ka

bir, just six days after his father, Abubakar Yakubu Isma’il, lost his life in a tragic road accident. The incident occurred as members of the Kano State contingent were returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

Abubakar, a dedicated medical professional and PhD student, was among the 22 individuals who died when their bus crashed just 40 kilometers from Kano. His wife, Ummi Abubakar, received news of his death while preparing a meal. She rushed to the hospital where the bodies were taken, overcome with grief. Concerned for her well-being as her delivery date neared, her family took her to a private hospital in Tarauni, where she gave birth to their son. The child will be named Abubakar, in honor of his late father, with a naming ceremony planned in accordance with Islamic tradition.

Abubakar’s brother, Tijjani Isma’il, shared that he had spoken to Abubakar shortly before the crash. Typically, Abubakar would have disembarked earlier at Tashar Yari, but had decided to continue into the city for errands—an unfortunate decision that led to his being on the ill-fated bus.

    Background to the Crash

The team was returning from a successful outing at the National Sports Festival, covering a distance of over 1,000 kilometers. Two buses were used for the journey: one in good condition and the other, a faulty one. The faulty bus, after multiple mechanical issues in Abeokuta, Lokoja, and Abuja, was ultimately the one involved in the fatal crash near Dakatsalle.

The crash occurred when the bus veered off a bridge, somersaulted, and flipped repeatedly. Nineteen people were confirmed dead at the scene, with the death toll later rising to 22. Nine others remain in critical condition, receiving care at Kura General Hospital and Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital in Kano.

Among the deceased were young athletes, coaches, medical staff, two journalists, and two senior drivers. Some names of those lost include Nasiru Abdullahi, Aminu Muhammad, Shehu Sai’du, and Abubakar Isma’il, among others.

The Kano State Government provided N1 million to each bereaved family, while the Ogun State Government donated N21 million in total support. Although there were considerations for a state burial, families chose to inter their loved ones in their respective communities.

   Fateful Decisions

In a tragic twist, some passengers switched buses shortly before departure. The state’s chief driver and his colleague left the sound bus to board the faulty one and perished. A coach, sensing something was wrong, opted not to travel in the damaged bus and survived. The Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Galadima, chose loyalty over safety and moved to the faulty bus, where he also died.

  Possible Causes

There are conflicting reports about what caused the crash. Some suggest brake failure, while others suspect the driver may have fallen asleep from exhaustion. A former driver of the bus, who had previously refused to drive it due to its poor condition, claimed it was often operated without proper maintenance. The bus had been donated in 2017 and reportedly fell into disrepair due to neglect.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause.

FAITH MIMDOO KEGH

Manager – Oversees the daily operations, editorial planning, and strategic direction of the platform. A graduate with a solid academic foundation in media and communication, Faith brings a wealth of experience to the TokinPoint.

tokinpoint.com