Tears as Gombe Journalists laid to rest

A funeral prayer was held on Tuesday for the five staff members of the Nigeria Television Authority, Gombe, who lost their lives in a tragic auto crash on Monday.

The funeral prayer for the deceased; Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager Administration, Musa JIbrin Tabra, retired Manager of News, Malam Aminu Adamu a senior driver and Isa Lawan of Programmes Department, was held at the Bubayero Central Mosque, Emir’s Palace, Gombe.

The prayer led by Imam Aliyu Hammari, attracted a large turnout of sympathisers, including grieving family members and colleagues from the media industry.

Our correspondent reports that the remains of the fifth casualty, Hajiya Zahra Umar Adamu, Manager News, was conveyed to her state of origin, Kano, where the funeral prayer was held and he was subsequently buried.

Among those in attendance were Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi and other senior government officials.

Daily Trust reports that the deceased were among seven journalists and media workers involved in the fatal accident that occurred near Ladongor in Billiri LGA, along the Gombe-Yola highway on Monday, while they were returning from Kaltungo, where they had attended the wedding ceremony of a colleague.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the injured victims at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe, Governor Yahaya expressed gratitude to Allah for sparing the lives of the survivors and prayed for their speedy recovery.

He described the deaths as a painful loss to the state and the media profession, noting that the state had lost dedicated professionals who served with commitment.

“We must thank Almighty Allah for sparing their lives, not because they are better than those who passed on, but because it was destined so. Our most important duty now is to continue praying for their quick and complete recovery.

“For those who lost their lives, we will not relent in praying for the repose of their souls, in view of the enormous contributions they made to journalism and public service,” he said.

He extended the state government’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, their respective organisations and the entire media fraternity, urging them to accept the tragic loss as an act of Allah.

Governor Yahaya also announced that the state government has taken over the full medical bills of all the injured victims, assuring that the government would provide every necessary support to aid their recovery.

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