Journalists Narrowly Escape Fatal Crash in Gombe
A tragic repeat of recent media fatalities was narrowly averted in Gombe on Friday. A bus conveying the Correspondents’ Chapel, tasked with covering Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s project inspection tour, was forced off the road by the reckless driving of a local official’s aide. The vehicle, carrying journalists across various local government areas, was nearly sent into a somersault after the driver of the Shongom Local Government Chairperson attempted a dangerous overtake. The encounter resulted in the clipping of the press bus’s side mirror, forcing the driver to make a frantic, life-saving manoeuvre.
The incident is particularly chilling given the dark cloud currently hanging over the region’s media community. Only two months ago, in December 2025, seven journalists and media workers were killed in a horrific lone crash along the Billiri–Kumo road while returning from a colleague’s wedding. That tragedy plunged the state into mourning and led to a N14 million compensation package from the Governor for the bereaved families. To have the Governor’s own press crew endangered by the negligence of a subordinate’s driver suggests a persistent lack of discipline within official convoys.
Safety on the road has become a primary occupational hazard for journalists in the North-East. Earlier this month, a similar accident in Bauchi involving 14 media professionals claimed the life of Channels Television cameraman Kani Ben. Ben, who was buried just last Saturday in Adamawa, died from injuries sustained while covering a North-East Development Commission (NEDC) tour. The frequent recurrence of these “near-misses” and fatalities highlights a systemic disregard for the safety of the press crews who trail political leaders across treacherous terrains.
The Shongom Chairperson’s driver represents a broader culture of convoy entitlement that frequently puts civilian and professional lives at risk. In this instance, the journalists were forced to navigate the shoulder of the road to avoid a head-on or side-impact collision. While no physical injuries were reported this time, the psychological toll on a press corps already reeling from multiple funerals cannot be overstated. There is a growing sense that covering the “developmental strides” of the government should not require a death wish.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has repeatedly called for better protection and insurance for its members, yet little has changed regarding the conduct of drivers within government entourages. Governor Yahaya, who has been vocal in his sympathy for fallen journalists, must now address the conduct of those within his own administrative circle. Reckless driving by an official’s aide is not merely a traffic offence; in this context, it is a threat to the very people tasked with documenting the state’s progress.
As the Governor’s tour continues, the press corps remains on edge. The Gombe State Government has yet to announce any disciplinary measures against the driver responsible for Friday’s close call. For the journalists who narrowly escaped, the “inspection tour” has become an exercise in survival.