How Bauchi agency boss, 4 children died in road crash

The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Ladan Duguri, and four of his children have died in a road accident in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

The accident occurred on Saturday on the Duguri–Bauchi road, near Yalwan Duguri town, when the victims were returning to Bauchi after spending the weekend attending to a family farm and visiting relatives in Duguri.

Musa Ahmed, a family member and traditional title holder of Walin Yankari, said that a few minutes after leaving Yalwan Duguri, the victims’ vehicle had a head-on collision with a trailer at a sharp bend and four of them died instantly.

Another relative, Umar Aliyu Duguri, told our correspondent that the accident was so fatal that the impact of the crash was severe, leaving a little chance of survival.

“He died together with his three biological children and a son of his brother. The accident was devastating and heartbreaking because if you see the way the accident damaged his car, you will know that it will be difficult for them to survive,” he said.

Aliyu said locals and officials blamed over-speeding as the major cause of the accident and prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the victims.

“Tragically, Alhaji Ibrahim and four of his children: Hajara, Usman, Rukayya, and Maryam, lost their lives on the spot”, he said.

He said another son, Suleiman, miraculously survived the crash and is currently receiving medical attention.

He said three of the deceased children were Alhaji Ibrahim’s biological children, while one was the child of his brother.

A nephew of the deceased, Yusuf Nurrudeen Abubakar Duguri, told Daily Trust that the victims were in good health when they gathered in Duguri around 6pm the previous day, adding that the family was shocked to learn that a fatal accident had killed five of the vehicle’s six occupants.

He explained that Ibrahim had visited his farm in Yelwan Duguri to harvest groundnuts before the vehicle collided with a trailer on his way back to Alkaleri.

An uncle of the deceased and Magayakin Duguri, Comrade Bala Mohammed Duguri, said the death had devastated the family, Alkaleri LGA and Bauchi State.

He described Ibrahim, a retired chief nursing officer, as a calm, patriotic and compassionate professional who continued to serve vulnerable people after leaving active nursing practice.

“He was a nurse to the core and always attended to patients, even outside working hours,” he said.

Mohammed said thousands of mourners from within and outside Bauchi State attended the funeral, reflecting the deceased’s good relationships with people.

The funeral prayers for the deceased were held at the palace of the District Head of Yalwan Duguri on Sunday.

Bauchi gov mourns lifelong friend, ally

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State described the death of Alhaji Ibrahim as a monumental loss to Bauchi, particularly the health sector, “where he distinguished himself through dedication, commitment, and an unwavering passion for improving access to healthcare services for the people”.

In his condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor extended his heartfelt sympathy to the immediate family of the deceased, the Duguri Emirate Council, friends, associates, colleagues, and the entire people of Bauchi over the loss.

He also prayed for the full recovery, strength, and comfort of Suleiman, one of the deceased’s sons who reportedly survived the accident.

Mohammed said, “As Executive Secretary of BASHCMA, the deceased played an important role in advancing the state’s health contributory management system and supporting efforts to make healthcare more accessible to the people, especially the less privileged.

“His dedication was also evident in his contributions to the state’s medical team during pilgrimage exercises in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where his commitment to the health and well-being of pilgrims was widely valued.

“Beyond his professional accomplishments, Alhaji Ibrahim Ladan Duguri was a close personal friend and classmate of Governor Bala Mohammed. His death, therefore, represents not only the loss of a valued public servant but also the painful departure of a beloved family member and trusted companion whose life was marked by service, loyalty, and dedication to humanity.”

Mohammed prayed that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, would forgive the shortcomings of the deceased, accept their good deeds, and grant Alhaji Ibrahim and his beloved children eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.

The governor called on all well-meaning citizens of Bauchi to remember the bereaved family in their prayers and to offer them the necessary compassion and solidarity during this moment of profound grief.