Channels TV cameraman Kani Ben dies nine days after road crash in Bauchi
A cameraman with Channels Television in Bauchi State, Kani Ben, has died. His passing occurred nine days after he sustained injuries in a road accident while covering the inauguration of
A cameraman with Channels Television in Bauchi State, Kani Ben, has died.
His passing occurred nine days after he sustained injuries in a road accident while covering the inauguration of projects by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Bauchi State.
The accident occurred on February 7 when a bus conveying a team of journalists lost control and somersaulted several times.
Another Channels Television reporter, Hajara Aliyu, narrowly escaped death in the incident.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the development as shocking.
In a statement by its State Secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the union extended 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 among the victims of the recent accident involving 13 journalists while covering an NEDC assignment in Bauchi, is deeply shocking,” the statement read.
The council also announced the suspension of its planned congress meeting earlier scheduled for today, pending further notice.
Also, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Channels Television cameraman in a statement by his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado.
The governor described Ben’s death as “painful and heartbreaking,” applauding his dedication and courage.
He said: “Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, he sadly passed away in the early hours of today (Sunday) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.”
The governor extended condolences to Ben’s family, Channels TV, and the media community, praying for eternal rest for the deceased.
The Nation reports that Ben is the only fatality recorded so far in the accident, which involved journalists from African Independent Television (AIT), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), including The Nation correspondent David Adenuga and other members of the Correspondents’ Chapel.
Ben hailed from Adamawa State.
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His colleagues had remained hopeful of his recovery after surgery and good attention at the intensive care unit of the ATBUTH before he sadly passed on yesterday.
He is survived by a wife and two children.
The Nation reports that the crash occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area shortly after the NEDC delegation, led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, accompanied by Bauchi State Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau, handed over the Government Secondary School project in Yelwan Duguri to the Bauchi State Government.
The convoy was heading to inaugurate the Bara Bridge between Bauchi and Gombe states when the accident happened minutes after the ceremony.
The injured journalists were initially conveyed to Yelwan Duguri Hospital for emergency treatment before they were transferred to the ATBUTH and Bauchi Specialist Hospital.
