Media
Herdsmen Kill Veteran Journalist in Nasarawa
From Beauty John, Lafia
Mr Benjamin Ekom, a veteran journalist in Nasarawa state was on Monday night shot and killed by unknown gunmen at his residence in Washo village, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state.
The former Treasurer of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Nasarawa State Council, who is also the immediate past Secretary General of Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA) Worldwide was said to have been attacked by suspected Fulani Herdsmen, leading to his death.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Nasarawa State Command, Ramhan Nansel
confirmed the incident.
According to him, “ the incident really happened at around 11:30 p.m, a distress call was received yesterday that two unknown armed men, suspected to be Fulani men, armed with cutlasses and sticks. They attacked one Benjamin Ekom, 70 years old, as a result he obtained injuries and he was rushed to Ola hospital where he later died”.
The PPRO revealed that the shirts of the suspected Fulanis and the cutlasses used in the operation were recovered, assuring that all hands were on deck to fish out the perpetrators of such a gruesome act.
Nansel appealed to members of the public to come forth with any information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals.
Reacting to the unfortunate event, Nasarawa State Council of (NUJ) condemned the attack and brutal killing of its former Treasurer, Benjamin Ekom of Federated Chapel.
They made their position known in a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Council, Salihu Alkali and Sunday John.
The body described the attack on innocent residents of the state by criminal elements as one too many and urged that drastic and proactive measures be taken to protect lives and property in all nooks and crannies of the state.
“NUJ leadership in the State urges the security agencies to fish out the killers of the former Treasurer of the union to face the law and calls on members of the public to expose criminal elements in their midst to rid the state of criminals”.
DAILY ASSET recalls that last week, several houses were set ablaze, five persons were killed and 14 persons abducted in Dausau village in Toto local government area of Nasarawa state. This happened shortly after the killing of Sule Maku, a Senior Immigration officer together with his sister in his residence in Gudi, Akwanga local government area of the state.
Media
Nami, Ex-FIRS Chairman Receives Top10 Magazine ‘Man of the Year 2023’ Award
Health
ICRC Trains 25 Journalists on First Aid Treatment in Yola
From Yagana Ali, Yola.
The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has organized a three -day training for 25 journalists on effective First Aid Treatment to prospective casualties.
The workshop, which took place in Yola drew the beneficiaries from different media houses across the state.
In a presentation, Communication Field Officer of the organization, Lemdi Edmond took the participants memory lane from its cradle to limelight.
He pointed out that ICRC intervenes basically in crises involving armed conflicts translating to man -made or unnatural disasters.
Edmond further explained that while the International Federation of the Red Cross intervenes in the area of natural disasters, like flood and earthquake, the National Red Cross Societies handles both natural and man – made situations.
The Communication Field Officer identified seven principles of the Committee to include humanity, impartiality,Neutrality and independence among others.
On their parts, First Aid and Pre-hospital Care Field Office Yola and Abuja respectively, Charity Maxwell and Daniel Ebodor jointly exposed the participants to the meaning, relevance and significance of the First Aid.
They maintained that First Aids basically aimed to save life, prevent condition from further deteriorating and promote speedy recovery.
They identified truthfulness, sympathy, resourcefulness, tolerance and empathy among others as qualities of a good First Aider.
The duo also enumerated and extensively explained Primary Survey variables relating to First Aid as Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and chest compression.
Interestingly, the participants were vigorously engaged in practical First Aid treatment on various aspects having to do with Burns, Fainting, Fracture and bleeding among others.
Highlights of the training were questions and answers, presentation of certificate and First Aid Kits to the participants
COVER
Newspaper Proprietors Decry Harsh Economy, Seek FG Bailout
By David Torough, Abuja
The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to support the print media to prevent it from going extinct.
Members of NPAN said this in Abuja, during a Business Lunch for some of their colleagues who were recently appointed as ministers.
Four members of the association were recently appointed as ministers by President Bola Tinubu.
They include Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy; Mr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
The President of NPAN, Malam Kabir Yusuf, said that the media deserved to be supported because it played an integral role in national development.
Yusuf commended Tinubu for finding so many members of the association worthy to be appointed as ministers.
The publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, and life patron of NPAN, Mr Sam Amuka, said that it was commendable to have four of his colleagues as ministers.
He advised the ministers to represent the association well, urging them to use their influence in government to ensure a free press.
“Let the Newspapers Breathe,” he told the Ministers as he emphasised the need for Federal government intervention to save the Newspaper industry from imminent collapse.
“The Newspapers are losing revenues everyday,” Amuka stated.
In his response, the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, assured the association that Tinubu’s economic reforms would be beneficial to all individuals and groups within the country.
Edun urged members of NPAN to support the government by being factual and objective in their reportage.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who described himself as an NPAN ambassador in government, urged journalists to be analytical and to always resist the temptation to peddle falsehood.
“Do not join the crowd to peddle falsehood, ” he said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described himself as the luckiest information minister in history.
Malagi said that his plan was to change the face of government communication.
“Trust in the communication coming out of government will be encouraged.
“I will not tell lies; I will say it the way it is. You people should also report it the way it is, ” he said.
He said that the government would also take steps to restore the integrity of public broadcasting by equipping and empowering government-owned broadcast houses.
Also present at the business lunch was veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, as well as prominent senior Nigerian journalists, proprietors, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and that of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba( additional reports from NAN)