Tragedy on Assignment: Journalists Hurt in Bauchi Road Crash During NEDC Coverage

Several Journalists were injured on Friday February 6, in a road accident in Bauchi State, coming just weeks after a similar tragedy in neighbouring Gombe State where at least seven Journalists and Media workers lost their lives, Global Mirror News reports.

The accident occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The affected Journalists were on official duty, covering a project commissioning event organised by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Yelwan Duguri.

Among those injured is the Bauchi State Correspondent of The Guardian newspaper, Mr. Rauf Oyewole. Eyewitnesses told Global Mirror News that the crash happened while the media team was travelling to the event venue.

Other journalists injured in the incident are reporters and cameramen from Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Arise Television, and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The injured Media Practitioners were first taken to Yelwan Duguri Hospital, where they received initial medical attention, before being referred to Bauchi General Hospital for further treatment.

At the time of the accident, the NEDC delegation was on a project commissioning tour led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu. The delegation also included the Chairman and Managing Director of the NEDC, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, and other Senior Government Officials.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of Journalists while covering official assignments, particularly on long road journeys across the region.