Tragedy in Gombe as seven journalists die in fatal road crash

A wave of grief has hit the Nigerian media community following a devastating lone accident in Gombe State that left seven journalists dead and four others critically injured on Monday evening.

The victims, all members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), were traveling in an official union bus returning from a wedding ceremony in Gombe South Senatorial District. They had traveled to celebrate the nuptials of a colleague employed by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the high casualty rate shortly after the incident. Speaking via telephone, the Gombe State Sector Commander, Samson Kaura, provided the grim details of the manifest.

“From the information available to us, 11 people were involved in the crash. Sadly, seven of them died on the spot, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Kaura said.

Early reports from the scene suggest the tragedy was a “lone crash,” meaning no other vehicle was involved. According to the FRSC, the primary evidence points toward a sudden mechanical failure that led to a loss of control.

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Explaining the likely sequence of events, Kaura stated:
“It is a lone accident, and from what we have gathered so far, it is very fatal. Although investigations are still ongoing, I suspect it may have been a tyre burst. Perhaps the driver applied the brakes suddenly, which caused the vehicle to somersault.”

As of Monday night, rescue teams were still active at the crash site to ensure all victims were accounted for and the wreckage cleared.

“Our officers are still on the ground carrying out rescue operations. We have not concluded the full assessment yet, but a comprehensive report will be released after the operation is completed,” the Sector Commander added.

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