Gombe State has been plunged into profound grief as the new year of 2026 begins, following a devastating series of incidents in the final days of 2025 that claimed multiple lives. The state is reeling from fatal road accidents and brutal attacks that have left communities in shock and mourning.
A Series of Tragic Events
The wave of sorrow began on Friday, December 27, 2025. Seven residents of Lawanti village lost their lives in a tragic road accident at Potiskum in neighbouring Yobe State. They were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony in Borno State when the crash occurred.
The victims have been identified as Gambo Abbo (35), Umalkhairi (18), Rabiu Abubakar (28), Fatuma Hassan (28), Amal Abubakar (3), Adamu Bello (4), and Zara'u Alhaji (27). The heartbreaking incident left the entire Lawanti community in despair.
Malam Idris Lawanti, father to two of the deceased females, expressed his profound anguish. "It pains me so much, I have lost two of my precious daughters. One was about to finish nursing school, the other was in SS2," he lamented.
Journalists Perish in Billiri-Kumo Crash
While the state was still coping with that loss, another catastrophic accident struck just three days later. On December 30, 2025, a vehicle carrying journalists and media workers crashed along the Billiri-Kumo road. They were returning from a wedding ceremony in Billiri.
The crash claimed the lives of several prominent media professionals:
- Manu Haruna Kwami, Manager Administration of NTA Gombe
- Zarah Umar, Manager, News
- Isa, an editor
- Musa Tabra, retired Manager, News
- Aminu, the driver
- Adams, who managed StarTimes operations
- Mrs Judith, an information officer with the state ministry of information
Several others, including Government House correspondent Emmanuel Akila, sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, captured the mood on Facebook, writing: "Another sad day for the journalism profession in Gombe State."
Violent Attacks and a Government House Tragedy
The tragedies were not confined to the roads. In the early hours of December 28, 2025, at about 3:30 a.m., gunmen attacked a residence along the Pindiga-Kashere road. They killed 31-year-old Yusuf Mohammed and 28-year-old Faiza Mohammed, and abducted their 16-year-old daughter, Zainab.
The assailants also kidnapped a housewife, Summai Alhaji Yayaji, her 11-year-old son, Al'amin, and 14-year-old Fatima Abdullahi. This violent attack sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving residents in a state of fear and uncertainty.
Furthermore, a separate and shocking incident occurred within the Gombe State Government House on December 26, 2025. A staff member was allegedly killed by a watchman, adding to the grim tally of deaths.
Official Reactions and Mourning
Governor Inuwa Yahaya has expressed his deep sadness over the consecutive tragedies. In an official statement, he described the incidents as "painful and devastating losses" that have deeply affected the people of the state.
Regarding the journalists' accident, the Governor stated it was a "heart-rending tragedy that has plunged Gombe State into mourning." He emphasized that the loss extends beyond the immediate families and institutions to the very soul of the state's media and public service community.
"The deceased were committed professionals who dedicated their lives to informing, educating and serving the people," Governor Yahaya said, adding that their deaths represent a devastating blow to journalism, public service, and governance in Gombe.
The governor has commiserated with the families of all the victims, the NUJ, the management and staff of the NTA, and the wider media fraternity.
In response to the death of its members, the NUJ has declared a three-day mourning period. A statement signed by the union's National Secretary, Achike Chude, urged members across all zones, councils, and chapels to observe this period in solidarity with the bereaved families.
The statement further urged colleagues: "We must work as usual in the spirit of fraternity and solidarity to ensure that they did not die in vain."
As Gombe State tries to heal from these compounded tragedies, the collective grief underscores the fragile nature of life and the profound impact of these events on families, professional communities, and the entire state.
