The Gombe State Government has disbursed a total of ₦14 million to the families of seven journalists who lost their lives in a tragic motor accident along the Billiri–Kumo Road.
The fatal accident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, while the journalists were returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state.
Each of the bereaved families received ₦2 million as financial support to assist with burial and other related expenses. The intervention forms part of the commitment of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to cushion the impact of the painful loss on the affected families.
Presiding over the disbursement on behalf of the Governor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, said the state government had earlier provided an initial token of support to families of injured victims immediately after the incident.
Professor Njodi disclosed that the Governor has also assumed full responsibility for the medical treatment and hospital bills of journalists who sustained injuries and are currently receiving care.
He reiterated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of journalists, describing the incident as a monumental loss to both the state and the media profession.
“Our hearts have been restless since this tragic incident. While we cannot bring back the departed or fully compensate for the loss, His Excellency approved this support to assist with burial expenses, just as the government has taken full responsibility for the medical bills of those who survived,” he said.
The SSG stressed that the funds were not compensation, but a compassionate gesture to support the families during the difficult period. He also conveyed the Governor’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the management of the National Television Authority (NTA), and the entire media community, urging them to take solace in the will of Allah.
Speaking at the event, the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, expressed profound appreciation to the Gombe State Government, describing the intervention as swift, compassionate and unprecedented.
He said journalists nationwide were deeply grateful for the support extended to both the families of the deceased and those currently receiving medical treatment. He further called on the Federal Government to fast-track the implementation of life and health insurance schemes for journalists, urging state governments to key into the policy once implemented.
Also speaking, the General Manager of NTA Gombe, Abubakar Adamu, conveyed the appreciation of the Director-General of the NTA, Salihu Dembos, to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his generosity and compassion, noting that the entire NTA family across the country holds the Gombe State Government in high esteem for the gesture.
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved families, Barrister Abubakar Ahmed thanked the Governor for what he described as the first intervention of its kind in the history of the state.
“This support of ₦2 million to each family will go a long way in addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of the dependants. We truly lack words to express our gratitude. May Allah reward the Governor and his administration abundantly,” he said.
