Christmas Eve Tragedy: Suspected Cultists Kill Journalist In Edo

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Tragedy on struck in the Independent Television and Radio (ITV) family on Christmas Eve in Benin City, the Edo State capital as suspected cultists  shot and killed one of their journalists, Hillary Nosa Odia.

Reports indicated that Nosa, a broadcast journalist, was  murder by the criminal group around 2nd East Circular in Benin City

One of his colleagues explained that the late Nosa left the office at about 4pm on Sunday and the news of his passage came as a shocker later in the night to those who were with him earlier in the day within the ITV premises

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According to the colleague, the killing resulted from a reported case of cult clashes around Esigie area, off East Circular Road, noting the deceased’s brother was also killed in a similar circumstances last year.

It was further gathered that three other persons were also shot by the cultists on the same day that Odia died.

Describing the deceased as “jovial, hardworking and easy to work with”, a competent ITV insider, in mourning Odia’s sudden passage, urged the police to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death and bring the suspects to book.

The insider, while giving an insight on the tragic incident, said; “The late Odia closed from work at 4pm on December 24. Unfortunately, we heard of his death around Esigie some hours later and it was a very big shock to the staff of the ITV.

“His brother was also killed in a similar fashion last year and I heard that the December 24 killing was due to cult clashes. He was a jovial person, easy to work with, hardworking. I hope the police will apprehend his killers soon.

“I also heard that he was trying to quit his own house at Upper Mission Extension and rent an apartment along Airport Road, while he also wrote an exam on Saturday morning at Edo State Polytechnic in Usen, where he was taking a course.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, which expressed shock at the unfortunate development, has commiserated with the management and staff of ITV over Odia’s death.

The Council Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, and the Secretary, Andy Egbon, said in a statement that the NUJ was determined to cooperate with security agencies in the state, especially the Nigeria Police Force ((NPF) to unravel the circumstances surrounding Odia’s murder.

However, in praying for the repose of their fallen colleague’s soul, the NUJ urged his family to take solace in the fact that Odia would be remembered on the positive side of history.

This is even as the Council further challenged journalists to investigate Odia’s death while also ensuring that adequate reportage is given to the unfortunate incident.

In confirming the killing, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edo State Police Command, Chidiebube Nwabuzor, however admitted that information at their disposal was still sketchy but promised to give further details of the incident on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.

On whether the late broadcaster had reported any case of threat to his life to the Police, the Command Spokesperson said it was difficult to immediately ascertain such given the volume of cases bring handled daily by the officers and men of the Command.

“I can confirm that the killing took place. Information is sketchy now but details would be revealed tomorrow after preliminary investigation”, Nwabuzor told some reporters.

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