The Gombe State Government has released a total of N14 million as financial support to the families of seven journalists who lost their lives in a tragic road accident in the state.
InfoStride News reports that the journalists died on Monday while returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The funds were presented on Friday on behalf of Governor Inuwa Yahaya by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abubakar Njodi, who disclosed that each affected family received N2 million.
Speaking during the presentation in Gombe, Prof. Njodi described the gesture as a modest show of support aimed at helping the bereaved families cope with burial arrangements and immediate needs. He said the incident had deeply shaken the state government.
According to him, the tragedy was particularly painful due to the number of journalists lost in a single accident, noting that the deceased played vital roles in informing the public and supporting governance in the state.
“This incident touched us deeply. These were professionals we worked with regularly. They covered our activities, attended briefings, and contributed immensely to public communication in Gombe,” Njodi said.
He added that while no amount of money could replace the lives lost, Governor Inuwa Yahaya approved the financial assistance to ease the immediate challenges facing the families.
Earlier, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya, commended the Gombe State Government for its prompt intervention and support.
Yahya recalled similar fatal incidents involving journalists in Plateau, Akwa Ibom and Adamawa states, lamenting the persistent risks media practitioners face in the line of duty.
He stressed the need for improved welfare, safety measures and comprehensive insurance coverage for journalists nationwide, announcing that the NUJ plans to introduce a new insurance scheme by March to enhance the health and security of practising journalists.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Gombe, Abubakar Adamu, described the incident as heartbreaking and praised the state government for standing by the families during what he described as a very painful period.
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