Prominent Journalist Murdered in Nasarawa …NUJ Mourn

Malik Yahya/

A former treasurer of the Nasarawa Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Benjamin Ekom, has been murdered by gunmen in the state.

The killing of Ekom, who was also a former Information Officer with the Akun local government council of the state, came barely seven days after that of five other persons in the state.

On July 27, five persons were reported killed with 14 others still missing at Dausu community in the Toto local government area of Nasarawa.

The traditional ruler of Aren-Akun community, Alhaji Usman Galadima-Umbugadu, who spoke on the incident on Tuesday, described the killing as unfortunate and barbaric.

Ekom, who was also a former Secretary-General of Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA), was killed late on August 3 at his house in Washo, Akun.

Galadima-Umbugadu described Ekom as a committed subject whose contributions would be missed by the chiefdom.

He said, “Yes, it is true that my subject, who served as the ECDA secretary, was attacked and killed in his house in Washo community by gunmen.

“This is unfortunate, barbaric and uncalled.’’

The monarch said that Ekom contributed a lot to the development of the chiefdom, advising the family and the community to take solace in God.

Also speaking, Mr Adams Makka-Nangba, the District Head of Wakama community, described Ekom’s death as not only a great loss to the family but to the entire Akun chiefdom.

“It is sad that Benjamin Ekom, the former ECDA Secretary-General, was assassinated in his house yesterday night,” he said.

Makka-Nangba prayed for the repose of the soul of the former information officer.

Spokesman of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Mr Ramhan Nansel, said that he was yet to receive information on the death of Ekom.

“I am yet to get that information. I will make my finding,’’ Nansel said.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the murdered journalist has been deposited at a hospital mortuary in Akwanga.

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