Suspected Cultists Kill Journalist In Edo State

Hillary Nosa Odia, a broadcast journalist with the Independent Television and Radio, was shot dead on Christmas Eve in Edo's capital city of Benin City. The incident resulted from a suspected case of cult clashes.

A colleague of the journalist said Odia left office Sunday around 4:00 p.m. and later that night they learned about his death. The journalist's brother was also killed similarly last year - just one day before Christmas.

The unidentified colleague said the news came as a "very big shock," adding that Odia was a "jovial person, easy to work with, hardworking," Punch reported.

"I hope the police will apprehend his killers soon," the co-worker said. "I also heard that he was trying to quit his own house at Upper Mission Extension and rent an apartment along Airport Road, while he also wrote an exam on Saturday morning at Edo State Polytechnic in Usen, where he was taking a course."

While Odia's colleague has claimed the killing happened due to cult clashes, the exact reason is yet to be revealed by officials.

Comrade Festus Alenkhe, chairman of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) in Edo State and Andy Egbon, secretary of the union, urged security agencies to find the culprits.

Chidiebube Nwabuzor, a public relations officer with the Edo State Police, confirmed that the journalist was killed Sunday and assured to provide further details Tuesday.

"I can confirm that the killing took place. Information is sketchy now but details would be revealed tomorrow after a preliminary investigation," he said.

Crimes like robberies and murders have become very common in Nigeria. Last month, a group of robbers killed Taiwo Oyekanmi, the director of Finance and Account at the Ogun State Governor's Office, and escaped with the cash he was carrying.

In the same month, a police superintendent in Asaba, Delta, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with unidentified men. The Nigerian Army arrested eight men in connection with the murder.

Moreover, a group of armed men kidnapped the traditional ruler of the Otulu autonomous community in Imo state and killed him in late November. His body was later found on Mbutu Road in Aboh-Mbaise local government area.