The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is mourning the loss of five staff members among seven journalists and media workers who died in a tragic road accident on Monday, December 29, 2025.
The victims were returning from the wedding of a colleague in Kaltungo Local Government Area, Gombe State, when the crash occurred.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident happened around 5:30 p.m. along the Billiri–Kumo Road in Akko Local Government Area.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) bus reportedly suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road into bushes.
Four other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
The deceased are:
• Zarah Umar, Manager, News, NTA Gombe, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the Office of the First Lady
• Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager, Administration, NTA Gombe
• Isa Lawan, Film Editor, NTA Gombe
• Musa Tabra, Retired Manager, News, NTA Gombe
• Aminu Adamu, Senior Driver
• Adams Danladi, Staff Member, StarTimes
• Judith Kutus, Information Officer, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
The injured, receiving treatment in Gombe, include Emmanuel Akila, Steven Doddo, Nina Gadal, and Jonathan Bara, all media workers.
READ ALSO: Edo Student Dies in Motorcade Accident After Final Exam Celebration
NTA Director-General Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos described the accident as a “heartbreaking loss,” praising the dedication of the deceased staff and extending condolences to their families, colleagues, and the entire NTA community.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and NUJ National President Alhassan Yahya also expressed grief over the tragedy, describing it as a significant loss to the media industry.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a morgue in Gombe, while investigations into the cause of the accident continue.
The FRSC has urged motorists to regularly check the condition of their vehicles, particularly tyres, to prevent similar incidents.