NGE, NUJ urge police to track down killers of Newswatch editor

The Nigerian Guild of Editors on Sunday urged the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Prince Umaru Manko, to track down the killers of Toyin Obadina, the Deputy Editor, Saturday Newswatch newspaper.
This was contained in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the NGE President, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Obadina died on Sunday as a result of injuries he sustained from the gunmen on Friday on his way to his Ikorodu residence in Lagos State.
He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where doctors battled unsuccessfully to save his life.
The NGE described the incident as “sickening”.
Adesina said in the statement: “The death of Mr Toyin Obadina, Deputy Editor, Saturday Newswatch from the guns of suspected armed robbers is not only agonising and horrendous, it is quite sickening.
“All men of the fraternity of the pen, to which Obadina belonged, are revolted that a man returning home from his legitimate duty is waylaid, robbed, and then shot twice in the stomach, leading to his death.
“We urge the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Umar Manko, to ensure that killers of Obadina are brought to book in the shortest possible time.”
The statement condemned the proliferation of small arms almost throughout the length and breadth of the country and called on the relevant authorities to rise to the occasion.
The statement added: “It is most probable that our colleague, Obadina, met his end through one of such illicit weapons.
“The onus is on government at all levels to curb criminality. Anything less would not do.”
The statement sympathised with the family of the deceased, Newswatch Communications, and Nigerian journalists in general and prayed God to grant all the fortitude to bear the loss.
Also reacting the the development, the national secretariat and the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists condemned the gruesome murder of Obadina.
In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Comrade Shuaib Usman Leman, the NUN said the shooting of Obadina, by armed robbers, leading to his death, “was another sad reminder of the vulnerability of media professionals and this further heightens our concern for the safety of journalists”.
The statement said: “While the NUJ condemns the continued killing of journalists in the country, it is no doubt that Obadina and many other journalists died because the Nigerian system over the years had failed to protect its citizens.
“The death has yet again deprived the media of one of its illustrious journalists and it is very important to call on the Federal Government to take measures for effective protection of journalists because journalists, as the conscience of the nation cannot be subjected to constant fear and intimation by such impunity.
“While we condole with the media family, we pray to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Also, the Chairman of NUJ in Lagos State, Deji Elumoye tasked the state government to live up to expectations, wondering what is happening to the billions of naira that has been saved into the state Security Trust Fund.
While appreciating the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led regime for its steadfastness against crime, Elumoye said there is the need to do more in terms of security of lives and property.
“It seems they have gone to sleep, criminals have gradually found their way back into the state. And I wonder what they are doing with billions of naira put in the Security Trust Fund,” Elumoye said.
He also commiserated with the Newswatch and Obadina families, while praying for the repose of the soul of the dead.