Tragedy struck in Gombe State on Monday evening as seven journalists lost their lives in a lone road accident involving a Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) bus, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.+See more details
The accident occurred while the journalists were returning from a wedding ceremony in Gombe South Senatorial District, where they had gone to celebrate with a colleague from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, the Gombe State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Samson Kaura, said 11 persons were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
“From the information available to us, 11 people were involved. Sadly, seven of them lost their lives, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Kaura said.
He explained that preliminary findings indicate the crash was a lone accident, with a suspected tyre burst believed to have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
“It appears to be a lone crash. Our initial investigation suggests that a tyre burst may have occurred, after which the driver possibly applied the brakes suddenly,” he noted.
Kaura added that FRSC rescue operatives were immediately deployed to the scene to conduct rescue operations and evacuate the victims.
“The injured persons have been taken to nearby health facilities for medical treatment, while investigations are ongoing. A detailed report will be released after the conclusion of our findings,” he said.
As of press time, the identities of the deceased journalists had yet to be officially released. The incident has thrown the media community in Gombe State into mourning, with colleagues and professional bodies expressing shock over the tragic loss.+See more details
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
