Kani Ben, a cameraman with Channels Television in Bauchi, has died after succumbing to injuries sustained in a road accident while covering the commissioning of projects by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Bauchi State.
The accident occurred on February 7 when a bus conveying a team of journalists lost control and somersaulted several times.
Another Channels Television reporter, Hajara Aliyu, narrowly escaped death in the incident.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the development as shocking.
In a statement signed by the State Secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the union extended its deepest sympathy to the immediate family of the deceased, the NUJ family, and his associates.
“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 meeting earlier scheduled for Monday, February 16, pending further notice.
Similarly, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Channels Television cameraman in a statement issued through his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the governor described Ben’s death as “painful and heartbreaking”, commending his dedication and courage.
He said, “Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, he sadly passed away in the early hours of today at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ( ATBU) Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.”
The governor extended condolences to Ben’s family, Channels TV, and the media community, praying for the eternal rest of the deceased.
Salient Times reports that Ben is the only fatality recorded so far in the accident, which involved journalists from African Independent Television (AIT), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), DAILY POST, and other members of the Correspondents’ Chapel.
The crash occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area shortly after the NEDC delegation, led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, accompanied by Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, handed over the Government Secondary School project in Yelwan Duguri to the Bauchi State Government.
The convoy was en route to commission the Bara Bridge, which borders Bauchi and Gombe states, when the accident occurred minutes after the ceremony.
The injured journalists were initially rushed to Yelwan Duguri Hospital for emergency treatment, then transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and the Bauchi Specialist Hospital on February 7.
