By Kamsi Anayo
No fewer than 15 journalists covering the inauguration of projects by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Bauchi State were on Friday injured in an auto crash.
The journalists, drawn from various media organisations, were part of an NEDC delegation led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari, for the handover of completed projects to the Bauchi state government.
The accident occurred along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, shortly after the delegation inaugurated a Government Secondary School project in Yelwan Duguri.
Several reporters and cameramen sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash.
They were first taken to the Yelwan Duguri General Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and Bauchi Specialist Hospital for further care.
Those injured include media personnel from Channels Television, African Independent Television, the Nigerian Television Authority, Arise Television, and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel from other organisations.
Members of the delegation included the Minister of State for Regional Development, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Commission, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, and other government officials.
The State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Auwal Jatau, led the NEDC management and board on a sympathy visit to the Cottage Hospital to see the injured and directed that they be moved to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for proper professional medical care.
