Grief as Prominent Church Leader Dies in Road Crash, 'Her Death Hit So Many People,' Photo Emerges
- Three ECWA members died in a tragic accident while returning from an outreach mission in Bauchi state
- One of the deceased, Deborah Bonat, was fondly remembered as a devoted leader and mother who exemplified faith and selfless service
- The late Bonat's religious organisation urged the community to support bereaved families and pray for the injured following the deadly road accident
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering metro.
Bauchi, Bauchi state - Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) is mourning the loss of three members who died in a tragic motor accident involving a team returning from an EMS Saturation Outreach mission.
According to a recent report by This Day, a statement signed by ECWA’s public relations officer, Danjuma Dickson Auta, disclosed that a bus carrying 14 participants from Zonzon DCC in Kaduna state was involved in a crash near the Lariski area of Bauchi state while returning from Taraba state.
Source: Twitter
The statement added that the injured were taken to a hospital in Gombe, where three victims were confirmed dead. Six others are currently receiving treatment, while five have been discharged in stable condition.
Ex-ECWA women leader, others die in crash
The deceased were identified as Mama Deborah Bonat, a former ECWA Women Fellowship International leader; Rev. Habila Tagwai Kajan, former Zonzon DCC secretary; and Mama Lydia John, Nigerian Tribune reported. Bonat was 68 at the time of her death.
The church leadership said it is working with relevant authorities to ensure the remains of the deceased are returned to their families for burial.
ECWA extended its condolences to the bereaved families and urged members to remain prayerful, calm, and steadfast in faith during this difficult period.
Deborah Bonat remembered in tribute
Paying tribute to Deborah Bonat, Monisola Eniola-Ashaolu, a social media user who said she is the late church leader's daughter, shared a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter).
Her post, shared on her verified account on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and accompanied by a photo of her and her late mother, reads in full below:
"On Monday, March 23rd, 2026, while returning from a successful evangelistic outreach in Taraba State, my Momma was called to eternal rest following a tragic vehicle accident.
"She died as she lived.
"On the frontlines of the Gospel, surrounded by the people she loved, and advancing the Kingdom of God.
"There are no words to fully capture the weight of this loss for me.
"She was my iron woman, the master planner, and my spiritual anchor. My everything!
"To lose her while she was on the front lines of the Gospel seems like a sacrifice that feels too heavy for me to bear.
"But if you knew my mother, you'd know that she didn't just live for Christ; she was ALWAYS in the line of duty. She travelled the entire landscape of this country and outside its shores for the Gospel.
"So how else was she to die?
"She had to go out while on duty. Her death itself still had to be a final act of evangelism because trust me, even her death is preaching to people.
"You know, I also went for this outreach, but to Kebbi. I was told of her death while on the road coming back. She was supposed to be in Kebbi with me, but at the last minute, she said she wanted to go with the team from our home DCC to Taraba. She wanted to be with them. That was her heart. Always with her people, always for the Gospel.
"I am reassured that it was her time to go.
"Why?
"Because other people including her younger brother who was seated with her came out without a scratch. Alive and well. Out of 14 people, 3 of them were handpicked.
"While I am a "strong woman" today because I watched her live, today I feel the weight of it all."
Source: Facebook
"My Momma is gone.
"She is now history.
"A statistic.
"Gone.
"Forever!
"The finality of it all...
"Please stand with us in prayer.
"For the divine comfort that only the Holy Spirit can provide for our family.
"For the complete healing of those still receiving care in the hospital.
"That the legacy of her faith, her grit, her love and her commitment to missions will continue with us and even beyond our generation.
"Her death has hit so many people beyond us her immediate family. She touched lives. She had many people. Many many people we didn't even envision.
"Please pray...
"Deborah Bonat April 1957 - March 2026
"Sai godiya!
"Swanta Blessing."
Read more on road accidents in Nigeria:
- Tragedy as bus, truck collision kills 11 on Benin–Agbor road
- Driver falls asleep at wheel, rams Lexus into vehicle on Third Mainland Bridge
Family members killed in Lagos crash
Legit.ng earlier reported that a speeding truck triggered a multi-vehicle collision that killed three members of the same family on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) rescued two injured survivors and coordinated with emergency agencies to clear the wreckage and stabilise the scene.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
