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From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Mr. Kani Ben, a cameraman with Channels Television, who passed away after sustaining injuries in a motor accident while on official assignment in Bauchi.
Ben was among journalists covering the commissioning of projects executed by the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) alongside the Minister of State for Regional Development when the unfortunate accident occurred on February 7.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he sadly passed away in the early hours of Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed described the death of Mr. Ben as painful and heartbreaking, noting that he died in active service while discharging his professional responsibility of keeping Nigerians informed.
The Governor commended his dedication, courage, and strong sense of duty, which he displayed until his final moments.
The Governor extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the late Mr. Kani Ben, the management and staff of Channels Television, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), his professional colleagues and the entire media community.
He prayed that Almighty God grants the deceased eternal rest and gives his family, friends and colleagues the fortitude to bear this great loss.
“The government of Bauchi State stands in solidarity with the media community at this difficult time and reassures journalists of its continued respect and support, as they daily risk their lives in the course of their duties,” the Governor said.
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Also, reacting to Ben’s death, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the incident as shocking.
In a statement by the State Secretary, Isah Gadau, the Union expressed 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 one of the victims of the recent accident involving 13 journalists while covering an NEDC assignment in Bauchi, is deeply shocking,” the statement read.
“While we await arrangements for the burial from his family, we wish to announce the suspension of our planned congress meeting earlier scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, February 16, until further notice.”
Kani Ben is the only fatality recorded so far in the accident, which involved journalists from Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, as well as staff of the Bauchi State Television Authority (BATV) and the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC).
The accident occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, shortly after the NEDC delegation, led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, and accompanied by the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, handed over the Government Secondary School (GSS) project in Yelwan Duguri to the Bauchi State Government.
The convoy had departed Yelwan Duguri en route to commission the Bara Bridge bordering Bauchi and Gombe States when the accident occurred a few minutes after the handover ceremony.
Some of the injured journalists, including Ben, were initially taken to Yelwan Duguri Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and Bauchi Specialist Hospital for further medical attention.
Ben, who reportedly had a pre-existing heart condition and had undergone previous surgery, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). His family, colleagues and sympathisers had been praying for his recovery before he eventually passed away.
