THEY CAN’T KILL THE INK

Toyin Obadina

On February 2, 2014, the Fourth estate of the realm was thrown into mourning after the news of the demise of the Deputy Editor of the Daily Newswatch Newspapers, Mr. Toyin Obadina who was shot and killed by unknown assailants around Ikorodu area of Lagos. This is coming barely two months after the Nigeria media industry lost a marketing communications sage, the GMD of Eminent Communications and Spot-On Media, Mr. Sesan Ogunro who was shot dead around Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, on the 23rd of December,

Sesan Ogunro

2013. It will be noted that on the January 1, 2014, the Sales representatives of The Nation and Thisday Newspapers were knocked down by a careless young driver on their way from a vigil on Mokola road, Ibadan. Mr. Timothy Adeosun of The Nation Newspaper later died while Mr. Juwon Babalola survived. On January 12, 2013, Mr. Ikechukwu Udendu, Editor of Anambra News, was murdered in Onitsha by unknown gunmen, while some of these attacks can be said to robbery gone wrong, others are clear assassinations as valuables by the victims were not taken from the scene.The serial killing of journalist by unknown gunmen over the years is alarming and denting the image of Nigerian law enforcement agencies as no one have been prosecuted for these killings.

 Oppression of the Press 

Waheed, molested by NSCDC officials

Many media practitioners have suffered ill-treatment and brutalization while carrying out their duties. Recently, Mr. Waheed Adebayo, a reporter of the Leadership Newspapers in Oyo State experienced brutality from men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in January, 2014 while trying to cover the installation of the new Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan despite due accreditation and identification as a journalist.  Others that have been brutalized were Mr. Okanyi Enemali, a photo journalist in Lokoja in December, 2013 as a result of him taken some photo shots of a police officer while collecting bribe from a citizen, most notable was the case of Mr. Benedict Uwalaka of Leadership Newspapers, who was vividly recorded on camera as he was been beaten by staffs of TOS funeral home, when he covering the account of the victims of the Dana Air mishap in August 2012.  Another to have come

Uwalaka and Ogundeji after attack

under this siege of attacks was Mr. Tunde Ogundeji, a former Photo Editor of Nigerian compass Newspapers who was beaten up by thugs while taking pictures of passengers hanging dangerously on coaches of trains of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC in Lagos.  Female journalists are not spared of this wicked act perpetrated by men of the underworld as a female staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Akure, Mrs. Olubunmi Oke spent three days in the deadly hands of kidnappers but was later released in March 2013. 

…Some by Road

The Akinwales

On the 1st of February, 2014, a reporter with NTA Akure, Mr. Alex Akinwale died along with his wife and children in a fatal road accident involving the convoy of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and a traditional monarch, Oba Taofek Olaposi, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun at the Aponmu-Owena area, along Akure-Ondo road. it would be recalled that in August 2013, three Nigerian journalist died in an auto crash along Ilesa-Akure express road on their way from Abuja, the deceased were Adolphous Okonkwo, NUJ National financial secretary, Mrs. Kafayat Odunsi of NTA, Mr. Tunde Oluwanike, Chairman, Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Network Centre of NUJ.

…Murdered at home

The Nigeria Media industry lost some promising journalists, in February 26, 1998, a senior correspondent with The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Tunde Oladepo, was murdered by gunmen in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State in front of his wife and children, in a similar fashion in 2012, the Principal Private Secretary to

late Oyerinde/Oshiomole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde was shot in his house in the presence of his family on the 4th of May, 2012 by assassins in ugbor, Benin. Two months later, in July, 2012, Mr. Steve Nwosu, Editor of the Daily sun Newspapers, was shot around Maza Maza area of Lagos but was lucky to have survived the attack from the unknown gunmen. Another of such gruesome murder was the case of Mr. Ogunbayo Ayanlola Ohu, The Assistant News Editor of The Guardian Newspapers who was shot and killed at his home in Lagos in the presence of his family, on the 20th of September 2009. Do these assailants ever take into cognizance the level of trauma and psychological effects these act will leave on the relatives of their victims?

In 2010, Mr. Nathan Sheleph Dabak and Mr. Sunday Gyang Bwede, both of The Light Bearer Newspapers were reportedly stabbed to death by unknown attackers on the 24th of April, 2010 in Jos, Plateau State. On this same day in a south-western State of Nigeria, Mr. Edo Sule Ugbagwu, a reporter for The Nation Newspapers was shot twice in the head at his house in Lagos.

…Some on the tour of duty

Members of the press have also counted losses resulting from attacks by the dreaded Islamic insurgence “Boko Haram” in the Northern part of Nigeria, amongst those killed are Mr. Zakariya Isa, a reporter and cameraman of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on October 22, 2011 in Maiduguri, Borno State,   according to the Sect, he was killed for allegedly spying on their activities, on January 20, 2012, the reporter of Channels Television, Mr. Enenche Akogwu, was shot during an attack in Kano State, a day before the killing of Enenche, the remains of Mr. Nansok Sallah of Highland FM, Jos was found dead on in Jos. On April 26, 2012, a suicide bomber rammed a bomb-laden vehicle into the offices of Thisday Newspapers in Abuja and Kaduna States, which left about three people dead and many injured.

Dating back to March 31, 1999, Ms Bolade Fasasi of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Ibadan, same year in November 5, Mr. Samson Boyi a photo Journalist of The Scope Newspapers was killed during an attack on the convoy of the former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna. 

Dele Giwa

This and many more I may not be able to iterate for now, have been assassinated for no just cause while practicing and their killers are still at large. The most devastating case of assassination of Nigerian Journalist was in October 19, 1986 when Mr. Sumonu Oladele Baines Giwa, popularly known as Dele Giwa, the Editor and Founder of Newswatch magazine, was murdered by a letter bomb delivered to him at his home.   

It is pertinent that Government intensifies their efforts in providing security for the lives and properties of citizens and create of jobs in diversified sectors of our economy.  Community policing should also be encouraged and a rapid response to emergency should be well facilitated by State Governments. A proper framework for protection of medical institutions  to enable them accept gunshot victims would go a nautical mile in saving the lives of people as it is next to impossible for gunshot victims in their battle for survival to produce police reports before treatment. Media organizations should also follow suite with bodies like the Nigeria Union of Journalism to ensure a formidable insurance scheme for members of their organizations so as to help reduce the suffering and dilemma of families of fallen media heroes. 

May their souls find eternal repose.