Call for probe
As more condolence messages continued to pour in for the late Pastor Dimg­ba Igwe, Chairman, Sen­ate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has demanded an investigation into his death.
Adeyemi, a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said in Abuja yesterday that security agents must unravel the cir­cumstances of Igwe’s death, which he described as confus­ing and inexplicable.
This was just as the South- South Media Professionals (SSMP) gave the police 72 hours to fish out the killer.
President of the group, Mr. Asu Beks, who spoke during a condolence visit to the corpo­rate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Limited in Lagos, said it was not enough for the police to make promises.
Also, Dean, School of Me­dia and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Mike Okolo, who led other officers of the school on condolence visit to The Sun office, said Igwe’s death could have been avoided, lamenting that his death revealed a failed condi­tion of the society in all aspects.
He said: “The killer is no­where to be found, the hospital did not help; and nothing just worked. It is a stark reality of what the situation in the coun­try is, but we are not going to lose faith, but to continue to do what we know how to do better. We need to continue to teach and write it that some­thing needs to be done in our country, Nigeria. It is very sad that situation you can clearly avoid, but you end up running round in a circle without any progress.”
Dr. Isa Momoh, who was part of the delegation, advised the company to compile Igwe’s articles to be published as a book, saying that would con­tinue to renew his contributions in the minds of Nigerians, and could serve as a literature for young Nigerians.
Responding, The Managing Director of The Sun Publish­ing Limited, Mr. Femi Adesina, who received the sympathisers alongside other top manage­ment staff of the company, said Igwe’s death had left the com­pany devastated.
While commending the university’s delegates for the visit, he said he would have been happier if the visit was for something of joy.
Also, Head, Corporate Com­munications, Access Bank Plc, Olubusola Osilaja, and officials of the bank were at the compa­ny to condole with the manage­ment and staff on behalf of the management of the bank.
She described the death of the former deputy-managing director of The Sun as painful and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Senator Matthew Nwagwu
Senator Matthew Nwagwu, representing Imo North, said Igwe’s death represented dark page, not only in the journal­ism profession but also in the intellectual community where he occupied a front seat. To the political class, he said Igwe was not just a newsman but also an agenda setter for Nige­ria’s future.
Bala Mohammed
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, described Igwe’s death as very painful, stress­ing that he died at a time when his country and compatriots needed his services. He stated that from what he read and heard about the late journalist, he was truly a rare breed in the field of journalism.
He described the late vice chairman of The Sun as a gentleman who stood gallantly, but peacefully for the common man and collective wellbeing.
Nyesom Wike
Minister of State for Edu­cation, Ezenwo Nyesom, in a statement signed by his Spe­cial Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said he received with shock the demise of the accomplished editor, pointing out that Nigeria would miss his quality contributions to jour­nalism.
He also called on security operatives to ensure that his killer was brought to book.
Ayo Fayose
Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, in a reac­tion by his Chief Press Secre­tary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said: “This is a sad moment, not only for our friends in the pen pro­fession, but also for the entire nation, because in the late Vice Chairman of The Sun Publish­ing Limited, Pastor Igwe, the country has lost yet another bright mind.
“I was speechless when I heard about his death on Satur­day. And the sad news brought me the picture of the kind of analysis of issues of national interest he does in his write-ups.”
Mike Okiro
Chairman, Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, also in a statement by his Spe­cial Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kayode Ibitomi, said Igwe’s death was painful, describing his death as a great loss to the journalism industry, especially now that his profes­sional reportage was needed more than ever to foster unity in the nation.
Okiro restated the earlier statement made by the Inspec­tor General of Police, Suleman Abba, that no stone would be left unturned to find his killer.
James Ibori
Chief James Onanefe Ibori, in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, said what distin­guished Dimgba Igwe was not his prodigious talent or unfail­ing energy, but that he elected to walk in the way of temper­ance, fairness and patriotism.
Abia Mandate
In a letter to The Sun manag­ing director, the Abia Mandate expressed sadness on the death of late Igwe. The letter jointly signed by Messrs Prince I. E. Okezie and Ifeanyi Ohakwe, chairman and acting secretary respectively, stated that Igwe’s death was a loss to the media and Abia State and the country at large.,
Nigerian Civil Avia­tion Authority
Expressing shock over the sudden death of Pastor Igwe, acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, extended his condolence to the publisher, management and staff of The Sun Newspapers, the NUJ, the Newspapers Pro­prietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and the nation, saying the media icon would never be forgotten for his con­tributions in developing pro­fessional journalism in Nigeria.
Punch Nigeria Lim­ited
Managing Director/Editor- In-Chief of Punch, Ademola Osinubi, noted that Igwe’s death was a loss to journalism profession in the country. He, however, stated that there was a consolation by the fact that the deceased numerous admir­ers attested to his contributions to journalism, as journalist, ed­itor and newspaper manager.

Nigerians give police 72 hours to fish out killer