Nigeria Dec. 29, 2025
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, has expressed deep shock over the tragic news of a fatal accident involving journalists, staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and Gombe Ministry of Information.
A statement signed by Mr Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General Press Affairs, Gombe government House, made this known on Monday.
The accident, as confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corp, occurred along the Billiri-Kumo Road, while the victims were returning from a colleague’s wedding ceremony in Kaltungo.
Gov. Yahaya according to the statement, described the incident, as a tragedy that has plunged Gombe State into mourning, noting that the loss goes beyond families and institutions to the very soul of the state’s media and public service community.
“We have lost colleagues, partners in progress and devoted public servants who served with passion and a strong sense of duty. Their absence will be felt for a long time,” the statement said.
He thus extended condolences to the families of the deceased, the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the management and staff of the Nigerian Television Authority and the entire media fraternity within and beyond Gombe State.
Yahya however, prayed to Almighty God, to grant the departed souls eternal rest and give the bereaved families, colleagues and loved ones the strength to bear the heavy loss.
It was gathered that those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident include Zarah Umar, Manager News and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the Office of the First Lady; Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager Administration NTA.
Others are Isa Lawan, Musa Tabra, a retired Manager News, Aminu Adamu, Adams Danladi of StarTime and Judith Kutus, Information Officer with the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
In another development, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, mourned the death of the Gombe journalist.
In a statement signed by Dr Isiguzo, he said he received with profound shock and deep sorrow the heartbreaking news of the death of seven members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in a ghastly motor accident in Gombe State.
“This tragedy is even more painful as the departed colleagues hailed from the Gombe State Council of our great Union, the home council of our National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi,” the statement said.
He extended heartfelt condolences to the National President, the National Officers, and the entire leadership and members of the Gombe State Council of the NUJ.
“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the families, friends, and newsroom colleagues of the departed journalists, as well as those who sustained injuries in the accident,” the former President revealed.
He further urged all members of the NUJ family, to stand together in solidarity, compassion, and faith, thus prayed to God to grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, heal the injured, comfort the bereaved.
The Gombe State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Samson Kaura, confirmed that 11 persons were involved in the ghastly accident where seven reported died on the spot while the rest sustained various degrees of injuries.
Aisha Ahmed ✍ from Dutse
