Journalism and its occupational hazard

The headline of a story on page four which drew my attention read: “Gunmen kill Nigeria Journalist in Lagos Home.” I had planned to relax on board and read a magazine, but that news item disturbed my sleep. I reflected for a long time on the increasing violence directed at journalists worldwide. In Nigeria, it […]

The headline of a story on page four which drew my attention read: “Gunmen kill Nigeria Journalist in Lagos Home.” I had planned to relax on board and read a magazine, but that news item disturbed my sleep. I reflected for a long time on the increasing violence directed at journalists worldwide.

In Nigeria, it started like a bad dream when, in 1986, Dele Giwa, the first Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb in his home in Lagos. It jolted journalists into realizing just how hazardous their profession could be.

Last Saturday, another shadow of sadness descended on the media community in Nigeria with the death of Mr Edo Sule Ugbagwu, 42, a judicial correspondent of The Nation newspapers. He was killed in Lagos by unknown gunmen. This death is particularly shocking coming after the death of Mr Bayo Ohu, a Guardian correspondent, and Godwin Agboroko and Mr Abayomi Ogundeji of This Day newspaper in similar circumstances. Equally disturbing is the attack on media organisations such as the bomb attack on Tuesday, December 22, on the premises of Superscreen Television station in December last year. According to media reports, in the afternoon of December 22, 2009, a device suspected to be a bomb detonated and exploded at Logemo House along Ikorodu Road in the Onipanu area of Lagos, the building where Superscreen Television occupies two floors.

Reports from Media Rights Agenda (MRA) said a middle-aged man had earlier arrived the building with some parcels addressed to two senior managers of the television station and asked for directions to their offices saying he had a high priority messages to deliver to them.

The visitor was reportedly ushered into the building and was being led up the staircase when the content of one of the parcels exploded, rocking the building and adjourning structures.

The suspect who delivered the bombs was badly injured as he lost his two hands and went blind. He was reported to have said later that he was forced at gun point to deliver the parcels.