The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of Channels TV journalist, Mr. Enenche Akogwu during last Friday’s serial bombings in Kano, northern Nigeria.
“The gunning of Akogwu, Channels’ TV reporter and cameraman, while on professional duty is appalling, shocking, condemnable, unacceptable and deserving of meticulous investigation”, IPC’s Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement on Sunday.
The IPC Director stated that such investigation should include an independent autopsy witnessed by representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), Channels TV, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to determine, among others, the nature and character of the bullet(s) that hit him and the possible source(s).
According to the IPC Director, “the outcome of such an investigation would also enable the media to distil reality from assumptions and therefore know who or what is to be held responsible for Akogwu’s death and how to avoid a repeat of such a sad occurrence”.
Mr. Arogundade said it was highly regrettable that so many innocent lives were being lost in the country while the security agencies and the government watched in a condemnable state of helplessness.
Mr. Arogundade added that it had become more than imperative for journalists to take seriously the issue of their safety while covering violent conflicts.   
SGDL
Stella Nwofia
Program Officer, IPC
Tel: +234 (0)8020359629
Email: stellanwofia@ipcng.org