The Edo Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday urged the police to track the killers of Lawrence Okojie, a reporter of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) reporter.
The Council Chairman, Sir Roland Osakue, made the call when the body of the late journalist was laid in state at the council’s secretariat on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Okojie, 33, was shot dead in Benin by unidentified gunmen while he was returning home from work in the night of July 8.
Osakue, who described the late NTA staff as “a thoroughbred journalist and gentleman”, said the entire union was pained by his demise.
He urged his family to take solace in the fact that the late journalist served humanity well throughout his sojourn on earth.
While describing the prevailing security situation in the state as “worrisome”, Osakue urged the police to rise up to the challenge of curbing the current crime rate in the country.
The NUJ chairman also appealed to the state government to beef up security in all strategic places to protect the lives and property of citizens.
Osakue expressed concern that the police had not apprehended the killers of late Okojie several weeks after the incident.
He promised to reward any member of the public that would offer useful information that could help in tracking the killers.
“We are really sad about his death, most especially as he was killed in the line of duty.
“We are particularly worried again because several weeks after the hardworking journalist was killed, security operatives have yet to find the killers,” he said.
A former Chairman of the Council, Mr Desmond Agbama, appealed to the police to take necessary steps to uncover the perpetrators of the crime.
NAN reports that many journalists paid their last respect to the deceased who they described “as very friendly and accommodating”.
NAN also reports that the management of the NTA has offered automatic employment to the young widow at the service of song held for the late journalist on Wednesday. (NAN)
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