No fewer than six journalists have died in a motor accident while returning from a colleague’s wedding ceremony in Kaltungo local government area of Gombe state.
The accident occurred Monday evening along the Billiri-Kumo Road with victims, mostly NTA Gombe Staff.
Those who lost their lives in the incident include: Zarah Umar, Manager News (NTA) and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the Office of the First Lady of Gombe State; Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager Administration NTA; Isa Lawan; Musa Tabra, a Retired Manager News NTA and Aminu Adamu, Senior Driver NTA.
Others are: Adams Danladi of StarTimes and Judith Kutus, Information Officer with the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Emmanuel Akila (NTA Government House Correspondent), Steven Doddo of NTA Marketing Department, Nina Gadal (Ministry of Information), and Jonathan Bara, Manager, Marketing, NTA sustained severe injuries and currently receiving medical attention.
The death has set members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Gombe State in a mourning mood, particularly the staff of NTA Gombe.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the incident as a heart-rending 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.
“This tragedy is deeply painful. 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 Governor said.
