By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Burah, the National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has visited Gombe State for condolences over the death of seven media practitioners who lost their lives during a fatal motor accident.
The seven media practitioners who recently lost their lives on Billiri-Kumo road had died during the accident while returning to Gombe from a colleague’s wedding in Kaltungo LGA.
On arrival in Gombe, Hajiya Aishatu was received by Mrs Ruth Absalom Baba, a member of the NAWOJ Board of Trustees alongside the Gombe State executive members and other members of the association.
While condoling the immediate families of the deceased, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), and the entire Journalists in Gombe State, Hajiya Aishatu described the sad incident as pathetic and devastating.
To the families of two NAWOJ members who lost their lives in the crash, late Hajiya Zarah Umar Adamu and late Judith Charles Wulengs, the NAWOJ National Chairperson expressed deep sorrow over the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of the fallen members.
Overwhelmed by emotions, Hajiya Burah said the pain of losing seven journalists at once goes beyond their immediate families and the Gombe State media community, noting that it is a loss to the entire country and the journalism profession.
The NAWOJ leader also visited the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gombe, to commiserate with the General Manager, Malam Abubakar Adamu, who lost five staff members in the accident. She described the loss as enormous even though death remains the end of all mortals.
She urged the management and staff of NTA Gombe, as well as journalists as a whole, to accept the incident as the will of God and to use the opportunity of life to love, support, and stand by one another. She also prayed for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving medical treatment.
In their responses, the families of the deceased and the General Manager of NTA Gombe said they required divine strength and grace to bear the irreparable loss.
They expressed appreciation to NAWOJ for the solidarity shown during the painful period and prayed for the forgiveness and peaceful repose of the departed souls.
The NTA General Manager, an eyewitness to the accident, said the reality of losing five dedicated staff members remains difficult to comprehend, urging everyone to avoid grudges and enmity, praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
End.
