Igwe, a veteran journalist, met his untimely death in the hands of a hit-and-run driver, who knocked him down while jogging around his house in the wee hours of Saturday.
At a condolence visit to Igwe’s family yesterday, the Inspector General of Police, disclosed the determination of the Nigeria Police in ensuring that the man, who knocked down Igwe, is arrested and prosecuted. The IGP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Umar Manko in company with the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti and other senior police officers, expressed concern on the tragic death of Igwe and the action of his killer to run away after knocking him down with his vehicle. “It is a very sad incident. And I feel very embittered that somebody of his calibre could be knocked down with a car by a Nigerian and run away without stopping. That is too bad.”
On provision of security facilities that will enable police get necessary information, the AIG said Lagos State Government had been trying to provide CCTV cameras, but expressed the need for provision of more of those devices to help the police in fighting crimes. “But all said and done, there is assurance from the Lagos State Police Command that whoever did this, we will do all we can to track him.” The AIG described the late Igwe as “a complete gentleman, a very straight-forward journalist and a forthright person.” He made it clear that people should know that human life is very sacred, “you don’t take it and walk away. Even if you have committed an offence, there is a step you can take. It is the same life that we all have, for God’s sake. How can you take somebody’s life and walk away just like that?
Adenuga
The Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. has said that the death of Igwe is a colossal loss to the entire nation.
In a condolence message to the Management of The Sun Newspapers, Adenuga said the nation had lost a gem with the demise of Pastor Igwe.
“Pastor Igwe was a gentleman and an excellent professional who discharged his duties with rare candour. He was a prolific columnist and constructive critic who used his writings to dissect the challenges facing the society and was always positive in his postulations.
The Globacom chairman said he received the news with deep shock and conveyed his commiserations and prayers to The Sun Newspapers and the family of Igwe on the monumental loss.
“We are however, consoled by the fact that Pastor Igwe lived a fulfilled life and left his footprints on the sands of time, especially in the journalism profession. He will be sorely missed,” he said.
He prayed that God would grant Igwe’s family, colleagues and associates the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
Slok Group
“It is not easy to run a media organisation and break even on time because it is capital intensive. But Dimgba Igwe teamed up with Mike Awoyinfa and they turned The Sun around within a year. He was a great asset to us in the Slok Nigeria Ltd,” said Emeka Abone, Vice Chairman Slok Nigeria Limited.
Areoye Oyebola
Author and former Daily Times editor, Chief Areoye Oyebola also commiserated with the family of Igwe and his media colleagues, saying the late media icon was “a victim of series of tragedies which the helpless and ever-tottering country called Nigeria has become.
“It is only in Nigeria where drunken drivers will fake driving licenses; roam about in large numbers, that such a tragedy can happen.
“It is only in a helpless country where law and order have virtually broken down that such a highly talented and prominent person can be so gruesomely killed.
“The last time I met Dimgba Igwe was a few months ago, when his close friend and associate, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, invited me as the guest speaker at the public presentation of Awoyinfa’s sister’s Christian book in Lagos. He was as sound, deep and thoughtful as ever.”
NUJ
Also mourning, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, yesterday called on security operatives to go after the hit-and-run driver who, on Saturday, knocked down the Vice Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Pastor Dimgba Igwe.
The Chairman of the council, Mr. deji Elumoye, gave the charge during a condolence visit to the corporate office of The Sun Newspapers. According to him, the investigation was necessary to prevent future occurrence of similar crime. He said it would also serve as deterrent to others, adding that most of the crimes being perpetrated could be avoided or minimized if closed circuit television cameras were mounted on the streets.
“It is really unfortunate that we are paying this visit. This is not the kind of visit we would have loved to pay. We felt heartbroken that we are losing a senior colleague. He is somebody whose wealth of experience and concern, especially about this job will be missed for a long time. He has put in everything into journalism and has mentored a lot of people.
“This is one but too many. Government on its part should try as much as possible to get to the root of this matter. The security authorities should go after the hit-and-run-driver. From the reports we heard, it happened at 6.30a.m. when he, along with other people in his vicinity were having their early morning jogging. That vehicle came and tried to dodge a pothole but along the line, the victim happened to be Oga Dimgba. We have been saying this for long that in other countries even some African countries, they have cameras everywhere. If governments that claim to have introduced these cameras to some of the highways can extend it to other areas, especially the metropolis of Lagos such Saturday incident might have been averted.
Elumoye continued: “I believe it is the duty of the police to do this. If the police can do their necessary investigation, I believe the hit-and-run driver can be brought to book.” Apart from those jogging, there are others walking on the road even as early as 4.30a.m., especially in Lagos. We leave it to the hands of the authorities to do their work.”
The council’s Secretary, Mr Sylva Okereke prayed for God to give the family members of the deceased, The Sun staff and Nigerian journalists the fortitude to bear the loss, asking God to continue to protect journalists from every hazard of the profession.
The Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Femi Adesina thanked the visitors for commiserating with The Sun team. He stated that the Lagos Council of NUJ has always been vibrant and proactive on issues that bothered Nigerians but he wished if the visit was for a happy circumstance. “But what we know is that the Bible says in all situation, we should give thanks to God. It is painful, but then, we still thank God for everything. We pray that this kind of things will not happen among journalists again,” he prayed.
Daniel
The death of Igwe, has also been described as a big blow to journalism profession in Nigeria.
The former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, stated this in his condolence message on the death of the foremost journalist which, he said, was shocking and devastating.
“I received the news with great shock. It is with heavy heart that I express my condolences on the death of the firebrand journalist, who was very significant in lifting the level of the profession in the country.
The late Igwe, Daniel said, was a detrabilised Nigerian and a devout Christian, who devoted ample time for God out of his tight schedule of work before his death.
Alex Akinyele
The news of the death of Mr Dimgba Igwe is a most rude shock! I was shocked to my marrow. In fact, I am tongue tied. Accept my heartiest sympathies to the members of his family and The Sun family. It is a shame that such a great journalist and writer could die the way he died. He was the best example of the gentleman journalist. May his saintly soul rest in perfect peace.
Ishiekwene
The Managing Director of the Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene and his team received the death of the vice chairman of The Sun Publishing Limited with heavy heart, describing the sad event as “a big loss, not only to The Sun family, but to the nation at large and his profession.”
Ishiekwene, who was at the corporate headquarters of the company yesterday, recalled his last meeting with the departed colleague in Katsina State during the recent Editors’ outing where they exchanged pleasantries several times.
While condoling with the Igwe family, The Sun staff and Nigeria’s journalists, the Leadership boss urged all to be comforted with the biblical injunction that says, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes.”
NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the death of Igwe as a big blow to quality journalism in Nigeria.
While condoling with Mr. Igwe’s family, The Sun Publishing Limited, the Nigeria Guild of Editors and indeed, the entire media community in Nigeria, the NLC, in a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, expressed shock on the sad news of Mr. Igwe’s death, which it noted as unfortunate.
“We remember him as one of the founding editors of the defunct Concord Newspapers and until death, a versatile columnist whose writings have contributed immensely to shaping thoughts.”
The congress said the circumstance of Mr. Igwe’s death calls to question the mental fitness of most drivers in Nigeria.
Jang
Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum and Plateau State governor, Jonah David Jang, has described the death of Igwe as the transition of a passionate professional.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. James Mannock.
Governor Jang, reflecting on Igwe’s writings, noted that the late journalist loved Nigeria and had contributed to building a better nation as a columnist.
He regretted that many younger journalists would miss the mentoring of late Mr. Dimgba and sympathised with the family and management of The Sun Newspapers on this great loss.
Maku
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has condoled with the management and staff of the Sun Publishing Limited over the death of its Vice Chairman, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
Maku, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, expressed deep sadness over how Igwe lost his life in an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver in Lagos.
NPAN
The Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has mourned the demise of one its own, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, describing his death as a collective loss.
In a condolence statement, signed by its General Secretary, Dame Comfort Obi, and addressed to the Publisher of the Sun Newspapers, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the group stated that Igwe’s death has exposed the incompetence of the country and the sorry state of its health sector.
“The circumstances of his death is devastating, and confirms how cheap life has really become in our dear country.
“How do we explain that Dimgba was knocked down by a hit-and-run reckless driver as he jogged around his neighbourhood in the Okota area of Lagos?”
His cheap death has exposed our incompetence as a country, and the sorry state of our health sector. Where were policemen around that stretch? There were no secret cameras in spite of millions of Naira allegedly spent on the project.
Forty-eight hours after this numbing death, there is still no clue as to the make of car, and/or the plate number,” NPAN stated.
The group, however, said Dimgba would be remembered for his “informed commentary. Through his regular column, where he canvassed for a better Nigeria, as society built on equality and justice. As a Pastor, Dimgba was, also a mender of souls, and a Sheperd in the Lord’s Vineyard.
“While we emphatise with you and the The Sun Group on this great loss, we should quickly add that this is our collective loss.”
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DIMGBA IGWE (1956-2014): We’ll get the killer –IGP |
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