By Seun Adams
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has asked the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to unravel the mysterious circumstances leading to the death of Vanguard reporter, Mr. Tordue Henry Salem.
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Mr. Ahmad Lawan, has expressed shock and sadness at the news of the death of the National Assembly Correspondent.
The Journalist who was last seen on October 13, was found dead in Abuja in the late hours of Thursday, after allegedly being knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle.
Lawan and Omo-Agege are of the opinion that there is more his death that meets the eye.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, in a statement quoted the DSP as expressing regret over the unfortunate incident.
The DSP, according to him emphasized the need for conclusive investigations that’ll unmask all those involved in Tordue’s death.
According to him, the parade of Mr. Itoro Clement – a commercial driver who allegedly knocked down and killed the journalist – has raised further questions on the circumstances leading to his demise.
The Delta Central lawmaker noted that providing the missing puzzle is the only way to bring closure on the matter, adding that anything short of this would add to the list of unresolved murders of journalists carrying out their constitutional duties.
“The news of the killing of Mr. Tordue Henry Salem came to me as a rude shock, especially as it came barely 48-hours after the Senate and House of Representatives passed separate resolutions tasking security agencies to intensify efforts to find him and reunite him with his family.
“I am particularly worried that this is happening at the heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Reports abound of kidnappings and other security breaches in the nation’s capital.
“While we await further briefing from the police on who deposited Tordue’s corpse in the morgue and when it was deposited, the sad development has added to the list of unresolved killings of journalists like Dele Giwa, founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine; Godwin Agbroko of THISDAY; Bagauda Kaltho of (The News); Bayo Ohu (The Guardian); Edo Sule Ugbagwu (The Nation) and Abayomi Ogundeji (ThisDay), who were all murdered in the course of discharging their constitutional duties.
“I extend my condolences to the family, friends and associates of the deceased, the government and people of Benue State, the Vanguard family, House of Representatives Press Corps, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, he said.
Re-echoing Omo-Agege’s tone, Lawan, said the concern of the National Assembly, when the Senate and the House of Representatives passed separate motions over the disappearance of Salem, was that he was quickly found and reunited hale and hearty with his family and colleagues.
“It is therefore shocking to hear that the journalist had all the while been killed by a hit and run driver in an accident.
“This is a very unfortunate and heart-rending development,” Lawan says.
The Senate President sends his condolences to the family of Mr Salem, the management of Vanguard Newspapers, the National Assembly Press Corps and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) over this sad loss.
Lawan also prays to God to comfort all the loved ones of the departed Salem and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. This was as contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the President of the Senate, Mr. Ola Awoniyi.