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Editors from across the Nigerian media firmament have called of the Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Umar Manko, to ensure that killers of Toyin Obadina are brought to book in the shortest possible time.
Obadina, Deputy Editor, Saturday Newswatch was killed by unidentified gunmen suspected to be armed robbers, on his way from office. The editors under the aegis of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, described the killing as not only “agonizing and horrendous, but quite sickening”.
In a statement signed by the President of the Guild, Mr Femi Adesina, it said “all men of the fraternity of the pen, to which Obadina belonged, are revolted that a man returning home from his legitimate duty is waylaid, robbed, and then shot twice in the stomach, leading to his death later in the hospital.
“This once again underscores the abyss into which we have descended in Nigeria. Here, life is truly in that Hobbesian state of nature: nasty, brutish and short.
“Our constitution makes it crystal clear that it is the duty of government to guarantee protection of lives and property. We recognize the yeoman’s Editors Want Killers of Colleague Arrested
efforts being made by the Lagos State government, but then, we are appalled at the unbridled proliferation of small arms almost throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is most probable that our colleague, Obadina, met his end through one of such illicit weapons. The onus is on government at all levels to curb criminality. Anything less would not do.
”We urge the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Umar Manko, to ensure that killers of Obadina are brought to book in the shortest possible time. We also sympathize with the family of the deceased, Newswatch Communications, and Nigerian journalists in general. “
Former President of the Guild, Gbenga Adefaye, while resonding to the death said: “Well, terrible and ugly things are happening here. And the Nigerian state has always been helpless! May his soul rest in peace”.
Deputy Managing Director of Thisday newspaper, Kayode Komolafe, in his tribute to Obadina said: “This is terrible! So sad! May the soul of our colleague, Mr. Obadina, rest in peace”.
Loius Odion, the Commissioner for Information, Edo State, could only write : “What?!! Unbelievable!!! Toyin dead?!!!! May his great soul rest in peace”.
