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The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has condoled the families of journalists who died in a fatal road accident in Gombe State, as well as the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and the Gombe State government.
Seven journalists lost their lives on Monday in a car crash along the Billiri–Kumo road while returning from a colleague’s wedding in Kaltungo.
Four other journalists were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the association’s Secretary-General, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, SWAN President, Isaiah Benjamin, described the incident as tragic and heartbreaking.
Benjamin said the news of the accident came as a shock, noting that the loss of seven journalists at once was a painful blow to the profession. He prayed for divine comfort for the families of the deceased and for members of the journalism community affected by the tragedy.
“The news of the death of these bright stars in the journalism profession came to me as a shock. I have been sad and speechless since yesterday. Losing seven journalists at the same time in such a devastating manner is extremely painful. My prayer is that God Almighty comforts their relatives and all of us in the profession,” he said.
In a related development, the SWAN president also condoled world boxing star Anthony Joshua over the death of two of his associates who were involved in a fatal road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
Benjamin described the incident as regrettable, noting that the deceased were valuable members of Joshua’s team. He also prayed for Joshua’s quick recovery from injuries sustained in the accident.
“On behalf of sports journalists in Nigeria, I commiserate with Anthony Joshua and pray that God consoles him and grants him speedy recovery,” he said, adding that the boxer’s life and career would continue to inspire young people.
It would be recall that , Joshua recently featured in a high profile bout that further highlighted his standing in global boxing.
