The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, yesterday, remembered eight journalists, who died in a fatal accident on May 16, 2007, while going for an assignment in the convoy of the then Plateau State Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye.
Also, eight remaining journalists, who survived the motor accident went home with various degrees of injuries.
Those who died were Musa Nuhu of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Isaac Agbo (The Nation); Judith Adama (New Nigerian); Chiwo Avre (Leadership); Emmanuel Adinoyi (African Independent Television); Reuben Emeje (Federal Information) and Sadam Lar (Nigeria Television Authority).
Those who survived are Audu Ojogbane (Daily Independent), Agada Okopi of AIT then but now with News Central Television; Seriki Adinoyi (This Day); Asile Abel (Reality Newspaper); Andrew Agbese (Daily Trust), Aminu Manu (Voice of Nigeria) but later joined Radio France, where he died recently, Monday Goteng (then of NAN but now an Associate Professor in the Mass Communication Department of the Plateau State University Bokkos and Solomon Gujor of the State Information.
Guest Speaker, Prof. Taye Obateru of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos, who was writing for Vanguard newspaper then was slated to go on the trip with the deceased, but later dropped as he changed his mind not to go again.
Obateru lamented that the mentality of journalists is to get stories for their organisations who do not care for their safety and security, stressing that they are becoming endangered species.
He said although journalists and soldiers take risks in their professions, that of journalists is greater because, according to him, “while soldiers know where and who their enemies are, journalists do not know whose toes they have stepped on in the course of their reporting.”
“During a war or crisis, you will be seeing people running away from the crisis or war zone. But it is that scene that journalists will go to, just to get first-hand information for their organisations. We are actually seriously endangered. It is again very unfortunate that the lawmaker that journalists help to get to the House of Assembly will now be the first to initiate laws against the press.
“Editors too are biased. They too have their focus. That is, the people in power. Journalists should be personally conscious and take personal responsibility for themselves”, the speaker added.
Taye argued that whenever newsmen are asked to go to a place that is not safe, they should use their “number six” to avoid going there, saying that they should take personal responsibility for their safety as nobody will do it for them.
He recommended insurance cover for all journalists.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the correspondents’ Chapel, Polycap Auta, lamented that the journalists had when they lost their lives.
Auta said that it has become very expedient to gather every year to thank God for those who survived and are still practising the profession.
Coming together like this, according to him, is worth celebrating.
“We want to thank God for bringing us thus far. Losing eight colleagues at the same time is a sad harrowing experience who were affected are our members in the chapel and that is why we have to come together to remember them and pray for the repose of their souls,” Auta Concluded.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Ibrahim Ashoms and Mr. Gideon Mitu who represented Dariye thanked God that there are survivors in the ghastly accident.
Associate Professor Sunday Goteng who responded on behalf of those who survived thanked God, praying that God will rest their souls in His kingdom.
