NEDC Management Visits Injured Bauchi Journalists, Assures SupportFrom Abdulwahab MuhammadPublished by Alphapressmedia
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has deepened its show of solidarity with journalists injured in Friday’s road accident in Bauchi State by paying a sympathy visit to them at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). The accident, which occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area, involved a vehicle conveying 13 journalists covering the commissioning and handover of NEDC projects in the state. Several reporters and cameramen from Channels Television, AIT, NTA, Arise TV, The Guardian, The Nation, NAN, Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), Bauchi State Television (BATV), and other media houses sustained injuries. On Saturday, a delegation led by Dr. Batulu Isa Mohammed, NEDC’s General Manager for Humanitarian Affairs, visited the victims at ATBUTH. Dr. Mohammed, who had earlier facilitated their emergency treatment at Duguri and ATBUTH, expressed deep concern over the incident and assured the journalists and their families of the Commission’s unwavering support. “Journalists are partners in progress whose contributions are critical to the Commission’s work and the overall development of the North-East and Nigeria at large,” she said, offering prayers for their speedy recovery. She emphasized that the NEDC would continue to monitor their medical treatment until full recovery is achieved. The visit also included the NEDC Bauchi State Coordinator, Alhaji Aliyu Isiyaku, and other officials, who joined in expressing sympathy and solidarity with the victims. Earlier, in a statement signed by Abba Musa, Head of Corporate Services, the NEDC Governing Board and Management had conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the NUJ Bauchi State Council, the Bauchi State Government, and the families of the victims. The Commission disclosed that it had approved full medical support and assistance for the injured journalists and their families, while engaging with affected media organisations. This tragic incident has drawn widespread concern across the journalism community, with NUJ councils and stakeholders calling for greater attention to the safety and welfare of media practitioners during official assignments. For now, the NEDC’s actions — from immediate medical intervention to ongoing support — stand as a reassuring gesture to journalists who continue to risk their lives in service of public information.
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