A cameraman with Channels Television, Kani Ben, who died from injuries sustained in a road accident in Bauchi State, has been laid to rest in his hometown of Kangling, Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Ben, born on May 28, 1982, died on February 15, 2026, after suffering injuries in a crash along Duguri Road while travelling with other journalists to cover project commissioning activities of the North East Development Commission. The accident involved 14 people, several of whom sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Speaking during the burial, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and the media community.
Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Usman Shehu, the governor described the incident as tragic and announced that Ben’s wife, Sarah, would be offered automatic employment in the state civil service to support the family.
He said, “The governor shares in the grief of the family and recognises the sacrifices journalists make in the course of their duties.”
Shehu added that the governor had earlier visited the injured journalists receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he directed his personal physician to remain with them until their recovery.
In a tribute, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, described the late cameraman as a committed professional.
Gidado said, “He was a humble and dedicated colleague who carried out his responsibilities with diligence and professionalism, earning the respect of everyone who worked with him.”
Also speaking, the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Abuja Diocese, Reverend Cletus Dading, commended the Bauchi State Government for its support to the bereaved family and prayed for comfort for those he left behind.
The North East Development Commission also mourned the journalist, describing his death while on assignment as a painful loss to the media profession.
Representing the commission’s Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, Naomi Abwaku said, “His passing in active service reflects his dedication to duty and the vital role journalists play in documenting events that shape society.”
Ben’s death has drawn sympathy from government officials, professional bodies, and members of the journalism community across the region.
