Anger as kinsmen, friends lament killing of Isah Edimeh

Edimeh was kidnapped from his house and taken to a spot on Ankpa highway where he was shot to death by yet to be identified assailants. Abdullahi  Bakwo, one of the kinsmen of the traditional ruler, while speaking on his murder said “I am terribly sad to hear that he was assassinated, and even more […]

Edimeh was kidnapped from his house and taken to a spot on Ankpa highway where he was shot to death by yet to be identified assailants.
Abdullahi  Bakwo, one of the kinsmen of the traditional ruler, while speaking on his murder said “I am terribly sad to hear that he was assassinated, and even more so that such dastard and cowardly acts supposedly occurred within Igala territory, within Chief Edime’s own Egume residential space.   If one’s home is no longer sacred, where else should people be turning towards?
While in the era of Boko Haram and all variants of violent and shameful expressions are manifesting within the Nigerian failing state- a state  incapable of protecting the lives and fortunes of the citizenry , the increasing nature of Igala involvement in criminal and violent activities, including religious fanaticism is  highly decriable and saddening”.
He said it was time for the new Attah of Igala to initiate a forum with traditional rulers, the political, and religious leaders within the land to control and stop this kind of act in the land.
“He faced enormous challenges as a result of development in the old Benue State.  He also helped many Igala sons and daughters to jump start and bolster their media and journalistic careers during that era. For these strides, Chief Isah Edimeh remains an Igala icon, any day, anytime, and ought to be forever remembered for his indubitable commitment to the cause of Igala formidable social progress,” he said.
The state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Alhaji Ali Atabo described the assassination as barbaric and heartless. The Chairman of the council in a statement, said Edimeh was one of the finest broadcast journalists the country had ever produced, describing his death as very painful.
“Chief  Edime was in a class of his own as a media professional and executive. I remember his role in ensuring that the then Radio Benue Broadcast and Services (now Radio Kogi, Ochaja) is extended to Igalaland, and making sure that a real transmitter rather than the eyesore that was then installed there in the 1980 was installed.” The NUJ chairman said the veteran journalist  was an icon who was very popular in the days of Radio Kaduna.  
Bakwo maintained that no matter what, Igala must detest the arbitrary taking of human lives, “that is considered sacred by our ancestors and by all the religions–Christianity, Islam, and  Igala traditional religious formats/forms (Ogwuchekwo, Ucholo am’ekwo wa, Ubadale, etc)- that our people adhere to.  I offer my sincere condolences over his sudden demise, and inhuman treatment in the hands of cowards and miscreants whose lives will forever be tainted and miserable.” he said.
Dr. Onakpa Michael Monday of the University of Abuja described the killing of Edimeh as an unfortunate incidence. “For a group of young men to kill an elderly man, a chief for that matter, it is the greatest form of cursing themselves,” he said.
Also, Rev. Fr. Attah Anthony Agbali in his reaction to the death of Chief Edimeh, said except his killers repented and publicly confess the crime and make restitution , seek public forgiveness and face justice for their action, they would be forever doomed. He said “Igala sons and daughters that readily make themselves available in perpetuating evil, wreack havoc and had become tools in destructive activities must realise that there is not just a day of judgement, but that what goes around comes around. There is no hiding place from the justice that will come.”
Edimeh was the producer of the popular Democracy In Action on the FRCN in Kaduna. He retired in 2005 as Zonal Director, Abuja national station. He was installed the Amana Attah Ojikpadala Egume in 2003, a position he held until his death.