The remains of the Channels television reporter, late Enenche Akogwu, was yesterday, laid to rest in Ai-Odoo clan, Ago Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state.
The late Enenche was shot and killed in the last Friday’s bomb blasts in Kano state by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.
Speaking at the funeral, the Benue state Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, who is also an indigene of the area said the journalist lost his life because of his commitment and dedication to duty and described him as a quality reporter who was hardworking and diligent towards ensuring the growth of his organization.
Chief Lawani condemned the violent activities that were prevailing in the northern part of the country and stated that the despicable act needed to be proactively tackled. He said that the result of the dastardly act as was reflected in the killing of his younger brother was causing more damage than good to the nation’s growth.
National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Mohammed Garba expressed shock over the sudden demise of the prolific reporter and noted that the death was a great loss not only to the family, Channels television but to the overall practice of the journalism profession in the country.
The President said that, “the late Enenche was trying to get the best not only for the station but for the development of the entire nation, therefore, we need to bear the situation and we hope that the untimely death of our colleague would not repeat itself on any of our members. May his soul rest in peace.”
While speaking on behalf of the management of Channels Television, Senior Resource Manager, Mrs. Maryann Gude noted that the death of the reporter had created a wide vacuum in the media organization, which she said was hard to fill.
Her words: “On behalf of the chairman and management of Channels Television, we deeply condole with the family of our great reporter. The death of Enenche is a great loss, and ever since we heard the news, we have not been our selves. Enenche was the best staff of the year 2011. As a man, he was too good, but to bring him back, that would be our greatest wish. God is the only one that would console us. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.”
In the same vein, the council chairman of Ogbadibo local government and Benue state chairman of NUJ, Mr. Kris Atsaka, in their separate remarks commiserated with the family and the entire country over the death of the Kano based reporter.
Meanwhile, members of the Ekwu Akogwu family have lamented that no amount of entitlement would bring back the their only son, just as they urged the federal government to employ active measures that would curtail the unlawful activities of the Boko Haram sect.