Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has donated N14 million to the families of seven journalists and media workers who lost their lives in a tragic motor accident along the Billiri-Kumo Road recently.

The fatal crash occurred on, December 29, 2025, as the journalists were returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague in Kaltungo Local Council of the state.

Each bereaved family received N2 million from the governor as financial support to their families. The cash was presented to the families on Friday through the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi.

The SSG said the intervention was part of Governor Yahaya’s commitment to cushioning the impact of the painful loss on the affected families.
Njodi disclosed that an initial token of support had earlier been provided to the families of the injured victims immediately after the incident.

He added that the governor has also assumed full responsibility for the medical treatment and hospital bills of those who sustained injuries and were currently receiving care.

“Our hearts have been restless since this tragic incident. While we cannot bring back the departed or fully compensate for the loss, His Excellency has approved this support.

“The government has taken full responsibility for the medical bills of those who survived,” he said. He stressed that the funds were not compensation, but a gesture of compassion aimed at supporting the families during this difficult period. He also reiterated the commitment of the present administration to the welfare of journalists, expressing deep sorrow over the monumental loss to the state and the media profession.

Njodi further conveyed the governor’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the management of the National Television Authority (NTA) and the entire media community, urging the bereaved families to take solace in the will of Allah.

Responding during the event, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, expressed profound appreciation to the Gombe State government for what he described as a swift, compassionate and unprecedented intervention.

He noted that the NUJ members nationwide were deeply grateful for the support extended to both the families of the deceased and journalists currently receiving medical treatment.

Yahaya also called on the Federal Government to fast-track the implementation of life and health insurance schemes for journalists, urging state governments, including Gombe, to key in once the policy is implemented.

Speaking on behalf of the bereaved families, Abubakar Ahmed praised the governor for the gesture, describing the intervention as the first of its kind in the history of the state.

“This support of N2 million to each family will go a long way in addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of the dependants. We truly lack words to express our gratitude,” he said.