IPC Condemns Gruesome Murder Of Radio Presenter, David Ekanem, Seeks Justice

• Demands thorough investigation

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos – Nigeria has condemned the reported gruesome murder of popular Radio presenter, David Ekanem, whose nickname was ‘Itiat Zion’.

Late Ekanem was a staff of private radio station, FAD FM, in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

According to reports, the late Ekanem, the Efik language programme presenter for FAD FM, was allegedly stabbed several times by some hoodlums and left to die close to a popular hotel on the Murtala Mohammed highway on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

However, condemning the killing, the IPC’s Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade, said: “It is of serious concern that yet another journalist has been killed highlighting the fact that journalists and other media professionals continue to be endangered species in Nigeria as we stated on November 2 while marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists”

Insisting that perpetrators of the heinous crime must not go unpunished, IPC expresed regrets that the killing of journalists and media personnel is becoming rampant, and hoped that the trend would not be allowed to continue in the country.

The Centre therefore urged the Police and other relevant security agencies not to relent in their efforts at ensuring the killers of David Ekanem are apprehended and brought to justice.

The late Ekanem was a celebrated Master of Ceremony (MC), who presented Efik language programmes on the Calabar-based FAD FM.

A statement by the radio station that was aired several times in place of the popular Efik instructional programme, had confirmed the murder, saying facts were yet to emerge as to the motive behind the murder of their presenter.

“We are still waiting on the police to conclude their investigations into the murder of our presenter. Presently, we leave everything yet in the hands of the police”, Ms Tina, a journalist with the station said.

Known as an avid promoter of Efik values and culture, the late Ekanem readily used his programmes to discourage societal misdeeds, while also urging citizens and the government to stamp out crimes and improve the people’s lives.