By Shu’aibu Usman Leman

I did not react with shock when the news came from Duguri, Bauchi State.

I reacted with dread,the kind that comes from long familiarity with loss.

It was the same grim script Nigerian journalists know too well, that an official assignment, a road accident, injuries, critical conditions, and families waiting in fear for updates.

A team of journalists had been deployed to cover the commissioning of projects by the North East Development Commission when their journey was violently interrupted along the Yashi–Yelwan Duguri Road.

Fourteen Journalists survived with injuries that will heal with time.

Others remain in critical condition, moved from one hospital to another as colleagues and loved ones hold their breath.

The media organisations affected are not distant names to me.

They are newsrooms I know, voices I recognise, and professionals whose risks I have worried about for decades.

That is why this incident feels deeply personal.

It is not a statistic or a breaking-news alert; it is another wound in a profession that bleeds quietly.

When I wrote Bleeding Ink, I tried to document the hidden dangers of journalism in Nigeria,the risks that are ignored, normalised, and rarely acknowledged.

Receiving the news today, I feel that book writing itself again.

The ink is bleeding again, for the same reasons it always has.

I have spent decades in this profession, including my years as National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and I have seen this pattern repeat itself too many times.

When accidents happen on official assignments, it is almost always journalists who are injured or killed, reporters, camera operators, and drivers never the public officials whose events necessitated the journey.

I remember the emergency phone calls, the rushed hospital visits, and the funerals that came too soon.

I remember asking how this injustice became routine.

Why is it that in convoys of power and ceremony, the journalist is the expendable one, left bleeding by the roadside?

The contrast is stark.

Journalists are often transported in poorly maintained vehicles, driven long distances without safety checks, insurance cover, or contingency planning.

There are usually no safety briefings, no clear lines of responsibility, and no plan for what happens when things go wrong.

Hope replaces preparation.

Meanwhile, public officials travel in well-serviced convoys, driven by trained professionals and protected by security protocols designed to minimise risk.

The message is unmistakable, that those who govern are protected, while those who document governance are left to chance.

This is not misfortune. It is a systemic failure that has repeated itself so often it now hides behind familiarity.

After every accident, there are statements of sympathy and hospital visits.

Then the attention fades, lessons remain unlearned, and the next assignment proceeds unchanged.

The Bauchi accident must not be allowed to follow this familiar path into silence.

Media organisations must refuse substandard transportation, government agencies must take responsibility for accredited journalists, and the NUJ must insist on enforceable safety standards and proper insurance cover.

To my injured colleagues, I wish you strength and healing; to your families, I share your fear and anger.

To those with the power to act, I say this plainly , that the ink has bled enough, and if nothing changes, it will bleed again.

~Shu’aibu Usman Leman is a former National Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists-NUJ… AUF…(Friday 06/02/2026)#Tribute.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognized the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, a move the party says will restore stability and strengthen preparations for its National Convention and the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday, signed by Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, the PDP described INEC’s decision as a decisive and commendable intervention aimed at re-establishing order, constitutional governance and internal cohesion within the party.

According to the party, the recognition comes at a critical period as the PDP begins early preparations for its National Convention and the broader strategic task of positioning itself to field credible candidates for the 2027 elections.

The PDP noted that by affirming a lawful leadership structure in line with a Federal High Court judgment, INEC has helped eliminate uncertainties that could have undermined the party’s organizational processes and electoral readiness.

The National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) commended the electoral commission for what it described as its commitment to due process and the rule of law, adding that such actions strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and reassure party members that legality remains the guiding principle in electoral matters.

“This recognition represents a strategic step towards restoring stability and order within our great party,” the statement said.

The party further called on its members nationwide to embrace reconciliation and unity, urging them to set aside internal differences and focus on strengthening the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP stressed that Nigerians are looking to the party for responsible leadership and a credible political alternative, warning that internal disputes must not distract the party from that responsibility.

It also urged stakeholders at all levels to support the recognized leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed as it works towards organizing a successful national convention, restoring cohesion within the party and laying the groundwork for the emergence of competent candidates.

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman announced his arrival in Spanish football in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, February 5, 2026, delivering a goal and an assist on his debut for Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

In what fans have described as “The Ademola Lookman Show,” the Super Eagles star produced a high-energy performance, marked by relentless attacking runs, confident dribbling and constant goal threat, as Atletico put on an impressive display.

Although Lookman missed a few early chances, the winger showed remarkable persistence, refusing to drop his intensity.

His determination paid off when he fired home a stunning goal, drawing loud applause from the home crowd and instantly endearing himself to Atletico supporters.

Lookman capped off his debut with a moment of pure class, providing an assist for Antoine Griezmann’s goal.

The Nigerian forward perfectly read Griezmann’s diagonal run before delivering a clever reversed no-look pass, highlighting a growing chemistry between the two attackers.

The seamless understanding between Lookman and Griezmann surprised many, with fans noting that the duo played like long-time teammates despite it being Lookman’s first competitive outing for the club.

Atletico Madrid’s attacking display on the night drew widespread praise, with Lookman’s performance standing out as a major highlight.

Social media in Nigeria quickly erupted with excitement as fans celebrated the winger’s immediate impact in one of Europe’s top leagues.

With such a commanding debut, Ademola Lookman has firmly put La Liga on notice, signalling that Atletico Madrid may have found a new attacking star.