Gombe State Provides N14 Million to Families of Journalists Killed in Road Crash

January 02, 2026 – Nigeria –

The Gombe State Government in northeastern Nigeria has disbursed N14 million (approximately N2 million per family) to the next of kin of seven journalists who died in a fatal road accident on December 29, 2025, as they were returning from a colleague’s wedding in the Kaltungo Local Government Area. The cash assistance was presented on behalf of Governor Inuwa Yahaya by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, in a ceremony held in Gombe on January 2, 2026.

Officials described the financial support as a gesture of compassion and solidarity rather than formal compensation, aimed at helping bereaved families defray burial costs and meet immediate needs following the tragic loss. In addition to the cash grants, Njodi emphasised that the state government had taken responsibility for medical treatment and hospital bills for journalists who sustained injuries in the crash and were still receiving care. Governor Yahaya expressed profound sorrow over the incident, noting the significant contributions the deceased made to public communication and development within the state.

The recipients included families of journalists affiliated with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe, and other media outlets whose deaths had deeply affected the local media community. National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, thanked the Gombe State Government for its “swift, compassionate and unprecedented” intervention. He reiterated calls for enhanced welfare measures for media workers across Nigeria, highlighting the need for life and health insurance schemes to protect journalists facing professional hazards. The NUJ has indicated plans to introduce such an insurance programme by March 2026 to bolster safety and well-being for practising journalists nationwide.

Media managers and colleagues also expressed gratitude for the state’s support during a painful period of loss, acknowledging the gesture as significant for both the families of the deceased and the broader journalistic fraternity in Gombe State. The tragedy and subsequent government response have reignited discussions within Nigeria’s media community about safety standards for journalists, particularly those who travel extensively for reporting assignments.

Reference – 

Gombe Govt disburses N14m to families of journalists killed in road accident

https://punchng.com/gombe-gives-n14m-to-families-of-seven-journalists-killed-in-road-crash/

https://guardian.ng/news/gombe-governor-donates-n14m-to-families-of-7-deceased-journalists/