NUJ demands justice for murdered journalist

The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has urged the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Mr. Famous Giobaro, a broadcast journalist in Bayelsa State.

The union made the request in a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of the NUJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Gombe.

The communiqué was signed by the NUJ National Secretary, Malam Shuaibu Leman.

The union is also demanding that the case files of all slain journalists be re-opened, including those of Dele Giwa and Bagauda Kaltho.

Some unidentified gunmen had on Sunday, April 16, killed Giobaro, an employee of the state-owned Glory FM 97.1 in his apartment at INEC Road, Kpasia, Yenagoa, the state capital.

A witness said the gunmen stormed Giobaro’s apartment within a bungalow around 5:00a.m. and shot him point blank on the stomach.

The attackers had gained access into the compound after scaling the fence with a ladder. They went straight to Giobaro’s kitchen door, shot at it and pulled it down to enter the journalist’s bedroom.

Two unidentified men, who slept in the apartment with Giobaro were said to have hidden in the wardrobe and toilet when the gunmen entered. The attackers did not steal anything and they did not attack other occupants of the bungalow, triggering speculations they could be assassins.

The communiqué further condemned in strong terms, the withdrawal of a Punch reporter, Olalekan Adedayo, from the State House, Abuja and urged the presidency to reprimand the Chief Security Officer responsible for the act.

The union challenged the Federal Government to sanction state governments that failed to properly utilise the first batch of the Paris Club refund.

The communiqué further commended the anti-corruption war of the present administration and also called on the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, to stabilise the sector.

The NUJ commended the Gombe State government and the State Council of the union for the successful hosting of the NEC meeting.