In a compassionate response to a profound tragedy, the Gombe State Government has extended significant financial support to the families of media professionals who lost their lives in a devastating road accident.
A Tragic Incident on Billiri-Kumo Road
The somber event unfolded on December 29, 2025, when a vehicle carrying journalists and media workers was involved in a fatal crash. The group was returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague in the Kaltungo Local Council area of Gombe State. The accident along the Billiri-Kumo Road claimed the lives of seven individuals, sending shockwaves through the media community and the state at large.
Governor Yahaya's Swift Intervention
Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya moved swiftly to cushion the effect of the loss on the bereaved families. On Friday, the state government presented a total of N14 million to the families of the seven deceased journalists. The presentation was made by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi.
Each of the seven affected families received the sum of N2 million as a gesture of support. Njodi, while presenting the cash, clarified that the funds were not meant as compensation for the irreplaceable loss, but rather as a compassionate gesture to aid the families during an exceptionally difficult period.
"Our hearts have been restless since this tragic incident," Njodi stated. "While we cannot bring back the departed or fully compensate for the loss, His Excellency has approved this support to help the families."
Comprehensive Support for Victims
The Gombe State Government's intervention extended beyond the families of the deceased. Njodi disclosed that an initial token had been provided to the families of those injured in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Furthermore, he announced that Governor Yahaya has assumed full responsibility for the medical treatment and hospital bills of the survivors who are currently receiving care.
"The government has taken full responsibility for the medical bills of those who survived," the SSG affirmed, highlighting the administration's holistic approach to the crisis.
Njodi also reiterated the state government's commitment to the welfare of journalists and expressed deep sorrow over the monumental loss suffered by the state, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the management of the National Television Authority (NTA), and the broader media community. He urged the bereaved to find solace in the will of Allah.
Appreciation from the Media Community
The gesture was met with profound gratitude from the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. The National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, was present at the event and commended the Gombe State Government for what he described as a swift, compassionate, and unprecedented intervention.
Abdullahi noted that journalists across the nation were deeply appreciative of the support shown to both the families of the deceased and those undergoing medical treatment. Seizing the moment, he called on the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of life and health insurance schemes for journalists nationwide, urging state governments, including Gombe, to participate when such a policy is established.
Speaking on behalf of the grieving families, Abubakar Ahmed praised Governor Yahaya's benevolence. He described the intervention as the first of its kind in the history of the state and emphasized its significant impact.
"This support of N2 million to each family will go a long way in addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of the dependants," Ahmed said. "We truly lack words to express our gratitude."
The tragic accident and the state's response underscore the perilous conditions often faced by journalists in the line of duty and set a notable precedent for sub-national government support to media professionals and their families in times of crisis.
