Channels Television reporter Kani Ben has died after sustaining injuries in a road accident while covering an NEDC project commissioning in Bauchi State
A reporter with Channels Television, Kani Ben, has died after succumbing to injuries sustained in a road accident while covering the commissioning of projects by the North East Development Commission in Bauchi State.
Also read: Journalists injured in Bauchi NEDC road crash
The accident occurred on February 7 along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area when a bus conveying a team of journalists lost control and somersaulted multiple times.
Another Channels Television reporter, Hajara Aliyu, narrowly escaped death in the incident.
Reacting to the development, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists described the death as shocking.
In a statement signed by the council’s secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the union expressed deep sympathy to the deceased’s family, colleagues and 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.
The NUJ also announced the suspension of its planned congress meeting earlier scheduled for Monday, February 16, pending further notice, as it awaits burial arrangements from the family.
Ben is the only fatality recorded so far in the crash, 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 happened 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 project in Yelwan Duguri to the Bauchi State Government.
The convoy was en route to commission the Bara Bridge bordering Bauchi and Gombe States when the crash occurred.
Injured journalists, including Ben, were initially treated at Yelwan Duguri Hospital before being transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital 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 before he eventually passed away.
Also read: Veteran journalist Lewis Obi dies at 77
His death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and members of the media community.
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