The late Ohu. Photo: NEXT

Writers' groups seek probe of journalist's death

By Festus Owete

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Human Rights Writers' Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)have demanded a thorough investigation into the murder of The Guardian journalist, Bayo Ohu. Mr. Ohu was assassinated by some unknown gunmen in his home in Lagos on Sunday. National Coordinator of the human rights body, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement on Monday, described the killing as gruesome and bestial and called on law enforcement agencies in the country to carry out a thorough investigation to unravel those behind it.

The group also criticized the Lagos State police command for jumping into hasty conclusion that Mr Ohu was killed by armed robbers, just as it called for the immediate reforms of the police and other law enforcement agencies with the aim of providing the officers with the current skills and techniques for the prevention and detection of organized crime.

It also called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the country so as to put a stop to the killing spree that the nation has continued to witness since 1999 without the trace of the perpetrators. "Crime and criminality are dangerous cankerworms that must be confronted frontally or else if Nigerians lose faith in the ability of the law enforcement agents to protect them, then everyone may be compelled to bear arms for self protection because the first law of nature is self preservation."

On its part, the Abuja Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, said it was horrified over the mindless and cowardly assassination of the late Ohu by those it referred to as ‘godless, evil and against free press in the country.' The statement, which was signed by the council chairman, Jacob Edi said given the enormity of the danger posed by the renewed onslaught on journalists and their profession, it would convene an emergency congress to discuss the present threat to the lives of journalists in the country.

Arms stockpile by politicians

Mr Edi lamented that with the stockpiling of guns by unscrupulous and desperate politicians and businessmen in the country, the terrain becomes even more dangerous for journalists to do their job.

While condoling with the family of the deceased and the management of The Guardian over the murder, he charged the police to leave nothing to chance in unraveling those behind the dastardly act. "Nearly three years after the murder of Godwin Agbroko, the Editorial Board Chairman of ThisDay newspaper, and the killing of Abayomi Ogundeji, also a member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspaper on August 17 last year, the police are yet to have a clue to those behind the brutal killings of these journalists," the group said.

The NUJ chairman called on the federal authorities to take the issue of security serious, warning that the continued politicization of security matters would not augur well for the country.

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Reader Comments (5)

Posted by Nigerian Cockrow on Sep 22 2009

Bam! bam!! bam!!! Another jounalist is felled by assassins bullets in Nigeria.And nigerian journalists and public are mourning and lamenting the distardly act. Between 1999- 2009,the hit list include Godwin Agbroko, Abayomi Ogundeji;plus Bayo Ohu, the recent victim,who is being mourned with mere words. At the end of the day, his family will remain fatherless and widow, respectively.The police have already jumped into conclusion as to who killed the defenceless pen pusher.Give it one week and the whole noise will die down- business as usual. Why cannot the media in Nigeria begin a bycot of coverage to all Nigeria police activities until these faceless killers are captured; National Assembly activites until the FOI billed is passed; coverage of Federal, State and Council governments activties until the country is headed in the right direction. The media should do this irrespective of who owns what in the media industry in the country. If they fail to take a postive action now, then Nigerians should know that the entire media have sold out and, commence an immediate bycot of patronage of the entire media-newspapers, telvision and radio.It is time to bycot all bycotables! Finally, I want to declare that the development of the country in all its ramification viz- good governance; discipline,accountability,responsility and transparency among the ruling class; provision of basic amenities- electricty, portable water, good roads, passionate attention to qualitative education and health-care delivery, zero tolerance for all forms of fraudlent schemes, security of life and property; squarely lay in the hands of the nigerian media.Until then another journalist will soon be killed. Know what? And the police will sing the usual refrain.

Posted by HAHAAHAHAHA on Sep 22 2009

MEN NIGERIAN Nigerian Cockrow U TOO MUCH, ALL THEY KNOW HOW TO TYPE BIG BIG GRAMMER, NO ACTION,ORGANIZE AWARD PARTIES AND LIE COWARDS EVERYWHERE,

Posted by SEKONI DAMILOLA on Sep 22 2009

life is a teacher the more we live the more we learn. sometimes people just live the right thing to do and do the wrong one, i have got to understand that the life of the masses is valueless in our dear country. it is time to wake up a child who still sit down at a spot at age 49yrs. What manner of child will that be o Nigeria

Posted by you_eye on Sep 22 2009

The frequent murder of Nigerians, journalists and other persons alike, without traces of the murderers and the "do nothing stance of the government is,, to say the least unfortunate. Protection of citizens should be one of the cardinal duties of this government but this is not happening. What manner of government do we have? A government of rebranding without any positive action on its part to inspire the citizens to follow suit. Effective rebranding will only happen when crimes are prevented and where they occur, the riddles are solved. Let the government rebrand itself and begin to respond effectively to the security needs of Nigerians, that way you build confidence in investors that they will be safe to carry on their businesses when they eventually invest in Nigeria.

Posted by ONADIJI TUNDE on Sep 24 2009

Nigeria is not developing as we suppose if we cannot at this level of our national integration curb crime.Various sections of the country are in chaos- the North if fueled by religious crisis,the East- the crime rate has taken another dimension to that of kidnapping while in the South-South it is militant saga. With all these can development take place. I think our government is not strong enough to have succumed to Amnesty grant for the militant even with every doubt that the success of of the programme is questionable in the minds of every Nigerians.