The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has expressed profound “shock and sorrow” following the tragic death of seven journalists in a fatal road accident in Gombe State.
The victims, predominantly staff members of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gombe and the State Ministry of Information, were returning from a colleague’s wedding in Kaltungo, Gombe South, on Monday evening, when the disaster struck.
According to the Gombe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Samson Kaura, the incident was a lone crash involving an NUJ bus.
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Preliminary findings suggest a tyre burst caused the vehicle to spin out of control and somersault near Kumo town in Akko Local Government Area.
At least seven journalists died on the spot, while four others sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Gombe, following a tragic incident that involved a total of 11 persons.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Idris described the incident as a harrowing moment for Nigeria and a devastating loss to the media community.
He praised the deceased journalists as committed professionals who served the public with courage, dedication, and integrity.
According to the minister, Nigeria had lost voices that informed, educated, and upheld the truth, noting that their deaths were a heavy blow to the nation.
He extended his condolences to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gombe State Council, the management and staff of the NTA, as well as the families and colleagues of the deceased media professionals.
Reports from Gombe identified the victims as Zarah Umar Manager of News at NTA Gombe and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the Office of the First Lady; Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager of Administration at NTA Gombe; Isa Lawan, a Film Editor with NTA Gombe; Musa Tabra, a retired Manager of News; Adams Danladi, a representative of StarTimes; Judith Kutus, an Information Officer with the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); and Aminu Adamu, a senior driver.
The minister assured that the Federal Government stood in solidarity with the bereaved families during the difficult period and stressed the need for urgent collaboration among stakeholders to improve safety measures for professionals who frequently travel in the course of their duties.
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He also prayed for the eternal rest of the departed and strength for their families and loved ones.
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