The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been thrown into mourning following the release of the identities of seven journalists who lost their lives on Monday, in a fatal road accident involving an NUJ bus in Gombe State. The crash occurred along the Billiri–Kumo Road as the journalists were returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague in Kaltungo.
Okay News gathered that the identities of the victims made public by the NUJ include Zarah Umar, Manager of News 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; Musa Tabra, a retired Manager of News; Aminu Adamu, a senior driver; Adams Danladi of StarTimes; and Judith Kutus, an Information Officer with the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Four other journalists sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment. They include Emmanuel Akila, NTA Government House Correspondent; Steven Doddo of the NTA Marketing Department; Nina Gadal of the Gombe State Ministry of Information; and Jonathan Bara, Manager of Marketing at NTA.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the incident as a tragic loss to the state’s media and public service community, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and the NUJ. He assured that the injured journalists are receiving government support, as the incident marks one of the deadliest single tragedies involving media professionals in the state in recent years.
