A top cameraman with Channels Television in Bauchi State, Kani Ben, has died nine days after sustaining injuries in a road accident while on official duty.
Naija News understands that Ben was injured on February 7 when a bus conveying journalists lost control and somersaulted several times while returning from an assignment involving the North East Development Commission.
Another Channels Television reporter, Hajara Aliyu, narrowly escaped death in the crash.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the development as shocking and heartbreaking.
In a statement issued on Monday (today) by its State Secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the union extended condolences to the family of the deceased and the media community.
“The death of our colleague, Kani Ben of Channels Television, who was among the victims of the recent accident involving 13 journalists while covering an NEDC assignment in Bauchi, is deeply shocking,” the statement read.
The council also announced the suspension of its planned congress earlier scheduled for Monday, pending further notice.
Governor Bala Mohammed also expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement issued by his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado.
The governor described Ben’s death as “painful and heartbreaking,” commending his courage and dedication to duty.
He said, “Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, he sadly passed away in the early hours of today (Sunday) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.”
Mohammed extended condolences to the deceased’s family, Channels Television and the media community, praying for the repose of his soul.
Ben was the only fatality recorded from the accident, which involved journalists from several organisations, including the News Agency of Nigeria and the Nigerian Television Authority.
The deceased hailed from Adamawa State and is survived by a wife and two children.
Colleagues had remained hopeful of his recovery after surgery and treatment in the intensive care unit before his death.
Naija News understands that the crash happened along the Yashi-Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area shortly after an NEDC delegation, led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, and accompanied by Bauchi Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau, handed over a Government Secondary School project in Yelwan Duguri.
The convoy was heading to inaugurate the Bara Bridge linking Bauchi and Gombe states when the accident occurred minutes after the ceremony.
The injured journalists were initially taken to a nearby hospital in Yelwan Duguri for emergency care before being transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and the Bauchi Specialist Hospital for further treatment.
