NTA mourns as 5 staff members, 2 others die returning from wedding of colleague

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has been thrown into mourning following the death of seven member of staff returning from the wedding ceremony of a fellow staff member.
in a fatal auto accident along the Gombe–BILliri road, Gombe.

Two out of the five deceased NTA staff included the station’s Managers of Administration and News.

They were returning from the wedding ceremony of one of their colleagues in Kaltungo town of Kaltungo LGA of the state.

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the crash that involved a Toyota Hummer bus bearing registration number: NUJ – 01, occurred at about 5:30 pm on Monday.

FRSC sector commander, Mr Samson Kaura said preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by sudden burst of tyre of the bus the victims were travelling in.

He identified five of the victims as staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe.

The FRSC Commander added that four other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash.

Kaura said the corps rescue team initially evacuated the victims to Amana Clinic and General Hospital Billiri, and later referred to the Specialist Hospital, Gombe

He said the corpses had been deposited at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe.

The commander advised motorists to always check the expiration date of tyres to avoid burst, adding that expired tyres risk burst anytime.

Kaura sympathised with the management of NTA and the NUJ family in the state over the loss.

Meanwhile, the Management of NTA has described the death of the members of staff its Gombe station while returning from the wedding of a colleague as heartbreaking.

This unfortunate incident is a big loss to the Authority of dedicated professionals whose commitment, camaraderie, and service to NTA and the nation will be sorely missed. Their passing under such painful circumstances is a great loss, not only to their immediate families and loved ones, but also to the NTA family as a whole, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, the
Director General of NTA said in a statement he personally signed.

“On behalf of the Management and staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the management and staff of NTA Gombe, and all who were affected by this tragedy. We share in your grief and sorrow during this very difficult time.

“We pray that Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, grants the departed eternal rest, forgives their shortcomings. May He also grant their families, colleagues, and friends the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Dembos said.