Six staff members of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe Network Centre, were killed on Monday in a fatal road accident along the Billiri–Kumo Road in Gombe State, deepening public grief following a series of recent crashes in the state.
The victims were returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague held in Billiri Local Government Area when the crash occurred.
The tragedy was first disclosed by the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya, an indigene of Gombe State, who announced the development via his verified Facebook page.
“Six journalists died in a car crash, another sad day for the journalism profession in Gombe State,” Yahya wrote.
A senior staff member of the station, who confirmed the incident, identified the deceased as Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager (Administration); Zarah Umar, Manager (News); Isa, an editor; Musa Tabra, a retired Manager (News); Aminu, a driver; and Adams, who managed the station’s Startimes operations.
Several others sustained injuries in the crash. Those injured were identified as Emmanuel Akila, the station’s Government House Correspondent; Steven Doddo; Nina; and Jonathan Bara. They are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities across the state.
The incident comes barely days after another fatal road accident claimed the lives of seven residents of Lawanti village in Akko Local Government Area, who were travelling to a wedding in neighbouring Borno State.
The latest crash has sent shockwaves through the media community and renewed concerns over road safety in Gombe State, as colleagues, professional bodies and residents mourn the loss of experienced broadcast professionals.
Authorities were yet to release an official report on the cause of the accident as of the time of filing this report.