Journalist slumps, dies on duty in Bauchi
Many of his colleagues at the Saadu Zungur Press Unit said that Aliyu died while writing a report on the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.They said he was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.His close friend, Mahmud Yakubu ibn Mohammed, and Malam Kabiru Ilelah, his cameraman, who witnessed […]
Many of his colleagues at the Saadu Zungur Press Unit said that Aliyu died while writing a report on the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
They said he was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
His close friend, Mahmud Yakubu ibn Mohammed, and Malam Kabiru Ilelah, his cameraman, who witnessed the incident, confirmed that the late Aliyu had worked throughout the day and was compiling his report about 5.30pm when he suddenly collapsed.
“He had his meal by his side as he was writing the report. His mood suddenly changed and he started jerking and collapsed in the process.
We raised alarm and sought for help to convey him to the hospital. On reaching the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, a doctor confirmed that he had died.”
Aged 37, the deceased left behind two wives, six children, an aged mother and four brothers.
He was buried in Bauchi on Friday in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
His funeral prayer was attended by the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami; managing director of BATV, Malam Ibrahim Idriss Shall, Mallam Usman Tahir, deputy chief press secretary, Danlami Baban Takko, some journalists, other media executives, family members and friends.
Governor Isa Yuguda, in his condolence message signed by the chief press secretary, Mr Ishola Michael Adeyemi, described the deceased as hard working and a professional who left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.
Commenting on his demise, the managing director of BATV said,
“The late Aliyu was an ‘all-rounder’. He reported, edited, handled camera and produced programmes. The vacuum created by his death will be difficult to fill,” he said.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi Council, Malam Dahiru Mohammed, who is a staff member of BATV, narrated how he noticed the talent in the late Aliyu right from when he was an attaché in the television station.