A state in mourning as Governor Bala Mohammed calls tragedy “a devastating blow”
Bauchi State is in mourning following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of two children of former Deputy Governor Baba Tela. The incident has cast a dark cloud over the state, with government officials, colleagues and residents rallying around the bereaved family.
The Tragic Accident: Returning From Azare
According to a statement from the Bauchi State Government, the siblings were returning to Bauchi from Azare when their vehicle was involved in a fatal collision. The crash killed them at the scene, and their bodies were later confirmed dead at a hospital in Bauchi.Former Deputy Governor Senator Baba Tela served as Bauchi’s deputy governor from 2019 to 2023 under Governor Bala Mohammed. He is a father of 12 and has remained largely silent publicly as the state grieves with him.
Details of what caused the crash have not been fully released, but the incident adds to a growing list of fatal accidents on Bauchi highways that have claimed lives in recent months.
Governor Bala Mohammed Mourns: “A Devastating Blow”
Governor Bala Mohammed expressed deep sorrow over the loss. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor condoled with the Tela family on behalf of his family, the government and the people of Bauchi State.
The governor described the incident as a devastating blow to the family and to the state. He also used the moment to mourn another loss to the government — the death of his Special Adviser on Higher Education, Yakubu Ibrahim, who died in Abuja after a protracted illness.
“Until his death, Yakubu Ibrahim served diligently as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Higher Education, where he brought his vast experience, wisdom and unwavering commitment to the development of the education sector in Bauchi State,” the statement read.
By linking both tragedies, the governor highlighted a difficult period for the state government, losing both a key aide and members of a former principal officer’s family within the same timeframe.
Baba Tela: A Life Of Public Service
Senator Baba Tela was Deputy Governor of Bauchi State from 2019 to 2023. Before that and after, he has been known as a medical doctor and public servant with decades of experience in governance and healthcare.
While the family has not made a public statement, sources close to the Tela household say the former deputy governor has been receiving sympathizers at his residence as Bauchi residents troop in to offer condolences. The loss of two children in one incident is a pain that has resonated across political and community lines in the state.
A Pattern Of Road Tragedies In Bauchi
The deaths come amid growing concern over road safety in Bauchi and across northern Nigeria. Highway accidents have become increasingly common, often tied to poor road conditions, speeding, and long-distance travel.Just months ago, Bauchi recorded another fatal incident involving journalists. In February 2026, two cameramen — Kabiru Ahmed of BATV and Kani Ben of Channels TV — died weeks after a road crash while covering an event for the North-East Development Commission. Several other journalists were injured in a separate crash along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri LGA.
In 2023, a Bauchi State Treasury Board accountant, Yakubu Shehu Sakwa, and his two sons also died in a lone crash along the Azare-Sakwa road when a tyre burst caused their car to veer off and ram into a tree.
These incidents have prompted repeated calls from the FRSC and state government for motorists to drive cautiously, especially on intercity routes like Azare-Bauchi and Bauchi-Gombe that see heavy traffic.
Calls For Road Safety And Support For The Bereaved
In his condolence message, Governor Mohammed urged citizens to prioritize road safety and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives. He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased children and for God to grant Baba Tela and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The governor’s statement further praised the late Yakubu Ibrahim as “a distinguished public servant whose life was defined by integrity, humility, selfless service and an unrelenting passion for the advancement of education”.
Across Bauchi, tributes have poured in for the Tela family. Political associates, traditional rulers, and civil society groups have described the incident as a painful reminder of how fragile life is, and how road crashes continue to cut short promising lives.
A State United In Grief
As burial arrangements are made in line with Islamic rites, Bauchi remains united in grief. For Baba Tela, who served the state at the highest level, the loss is deeply personal. For Bauchi people, it is a collective sorrow.
The tragedy also renews the urgent need for government and relevant agencies to address the state of federal and state roads, enforce speed limits, and improve emergency response to reduce the frequency of such accidents.
For now, the focus remains on comforting the bereaved. “We pray for the speedy healing and complete recovery” of all affected by road tragedies, the governor’s office said, and ask “Almighty Allah to grant them strength during this difficult time”.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
