George Okojie
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has decried the killing of Mr Toyin Obadina, deputy editor, Saturday Newswatch by gunmen, saying it is high time government curbed criminality and proliferation of arms in the country.
The Guild in a statement signed by its president, Mr Femi Adesina and made available to newsmen, described the gruesome killing as not only agonising and horrendous but also sickening.
It said, “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 later in the hospital.
“This once again underscores the abyss into which we have descended in Nigeria. Here, life is truly in that Hobbesian state of nature: nasty, brutish and short.
“Our constitution makes it crystal clear that it is the duty of government to guarantee protection of lives and property. We recognise the efforts being made by the Lagos State government, but then, we are appalled at the unbridled proliferation of small arms almost throughout the length and breadth of the country.
“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 editors urged the commissioner of police in Lagos, Umar Manko, to ensure that the killers of Obadina are brought to book as soon as possible.
While sympathising with the family of the deceased, Newswatch Communications and Nigerian journalists in general, they prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
Leadership