Incident

Three journalists killed in road accident in Nigeria

Cause of death

Road accident

Details

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its African regional group, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) today mourn 3 journalists who died in an accident in Nigeria, and express deepest sympathy to 10 other survivors.

According to Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), an IFJ and FAJ affiliate, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Lagos and Oyo States were involved in a ghastly motor accident on Friday, August 2. The delegation left Abuja earlier on August 2 after a meeting at the NUJ National Secretariat and their car had an accident between Ile Ife and Ilesha in Osun State (south west). All the victims of the mishap had been transferred from Ilesha General Hospital to the Teaching hospital in Oshogbo by the Osun State Government. NUJ later learnt the death of Adolphous Okonkwo of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) also its National Financial Secretary, Olatunde Ojenike of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Chairman of Radio Nigeria Ibadan Network Centre Chapel, and Afayat Odunsi of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), while doing their duty for the NUJ.

“On behalf of the IFJ, we express our shock at the tragic news of the car crash. We are all grievously pained by the sad loss of the three NUJ members. We hope that the outpouring of sympathy that NUJ is receiving is some consolation at this very sad time.

The IFJ, and many of its affiliates, have lost active and vibrant colleagues which makes it even harder to comprehend their death,” said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President in a condolences message sent to Mohamed Garba, President of Nigeria Union of Journalists and also President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ). Nine (9) journalists and the bus driver survived the car crash. They are Abdulkareem Fatimah National Treasurer of NUJ, Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Lagos state Council and a staff of This Day Newspaper, Gbenga Opadotun, Chairman, Oyo state Council and a staff of Nigerian Tribune, Silva Okereke, Secretary , Lagos state Council and a staff of Champion Newspaper, Bimbo Oyetunde, Chairperson Radio Nigeria Ibadan Network Centre Chapel, Momoh Adamson of Voice of Nigeria, Banji Oluwalana of NTA, Victoria Island, Uzogbu Christopher of Voice of Nigeria and Bolaji Akeem of NTA, Channel 7.

“We wish a speedy recovery to all the injured, in particular to sister Fatimah. They are in our thoughts and we hope they will get back to their usual selves soon,” Boumelha added.