Former Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, is mourning the heartbreaking loss of two of his children, Mustapha and Ummi, who died in a fatal road accident along the Bauchi–Azare highway.
The siblings were reportedly travelling back to Bauchi from Azare on Saturday when the vehicle conveying them was involved in a devastating crash. They sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital in Bauchi. Other occupants of the vehicle reportedly suffered varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across Bauchi State, with condolences pouring in for the former deputy governor, who served from 2019 to 2023. Senator Tela, a former senator and father of 12, has not publicly commented on the loss.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed described the incident as a painful tragedy and extended his sympathies to the bereaved family. In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor said the deaths of the two young siblings were not only a devastating blow to the Tela family but also a painful loss for the entire state. He prayed for Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and give their family the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
Governor Mohammed also used the opportunity to mourn his Special Adviser on Higher Education, Yakubu Ibrahim, who died after a prolonged illness, describing him as a dedicated public servant whose contributions to education and governance would not be forgotten.
The double tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety on Nigerian highways, particularly the Bauchi–Azare route, where accidents have claimed several lives in recent years. Authorities continue to urge motorists to exercise caution and obey traffic regulations to reduce the growing number of fatal crashes across the country.
