On Friday, February 6, 2026, a tragic road accident occurred on the Bauchi–Alkaleri road, specifically along the Yashi-Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. This incident involved thirteen journalists from various media organizations who were accompanying a delegation led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu. The media team was covering the inspection and commissioning of projects by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) across Bauchi State. The accident took place shortly after the delegation had commissioned a Government Secondary School project in Yelwan Duguri.

The journalists involved, representing prominent outlets such as Channels Television, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), African Independent Television (AIT), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Arise News, and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, sustained varying degrees of injury. They were initially rushed to Yelwan Duguri Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Teaching Hospital in Bauchi for further comprehensive medical attention. Fortunately, all other members of the touring delegation, which included the Minister of State for Regional Development, the Chairman and Managing Director of the NEDC, and the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, were reported to be safe.

In response to this heartbreaking incident, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) extended its deep sympathy and condolences to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Chapter, the Bauchi State Government, the affected journalists, their families, and the entire journalism community. In a statement signed by the commission’s Head of Corporate Services, Abba Musa, the NEDC’s governing board, management, and staff described the incident as heartbreaking. The Commission announced that its governing board has approved the provision of full support and care for the victims of the accident and their families. To ensure coordinated assistance, contacts are already being made with the respective parent organizations of the affected journalists, as well as their families. The NEDC also joined colleagues in the media industry in praying for the quick and complete recovery of those injured. This accident occurred just weeks after a similar tragic incident in nearby Gombe State, which resulted in the loss of at least seven journalists and media workers.