The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, the apex body of journalists in Nigeria has joined the family of the late Dimgba Igwe and other sympathetic Nigerians to mourn the passage of the frontline journalist on Saturday in Lagos. The Guild also urged security agents and allied relevant bodies to unearth the killer of Mr Igwe.
Mr Igwe, 58, a renowned journalist, author and a Fellow of the Guild, reportedly died of wounds he suffered when he was knocked down by a careless and cowardly hit-and-run driver. In a statement, the Guild referred to Mr. Igwe as a “peaceable gentleman”. Mr Igwe was said to be jogging near his Okota home about 10 am to keep fit, when the fatal incident occurred. He later gave up the ghost at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was rushed for further medical attention after a first aid in a private hospital.
The statement reads: “It is painful to recall that only recently, between August 27 and August 31, Mr Igwe was in Katsina, where he actively participated in all activities at the 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC). His death, therefore, has dealt a great blow to the journalism profession to which he and his inseparable colleague, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, had made invaluable contributions. Igwe was deputy to Awoyinfa when the Weekend Concord hit the newsstand in 1989. The partnership was replicated when the Sun Newspapers came on board in 2003, and the various books that they co-authored.
“Finally, the Guild wishes to use this medium to urge the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police Force, to fish out the cowardly driver who committed the dastardly act and inflicted
this pain on the Igwes and the Nigeria media”.
Also, the Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Chike Ogeah, said it was with profound shock that the news of the sudden death of Mr. Dimgba Igwe, “came to us in the Delta State Ministry of Information”.
“As one of the best brains in the journalism profession in Nigeria, he was on the sterling team that berthed the Sun Group of Newspapers which redefined news reporting and laid the template for quality tabloid newspapers. As a columnist, he was a voice for the voiceless and ensured that public office holders were accountable. As an in-law of the state as his wife is a Deltan, we have suffered a personal loss with tragic demise.
“On behalf of the Delta State Ministry of Information and the media community in the state, we commiserate with the management and staff of the Sun Publishing Limited. We pray for the family of the departed veteran journalist in this very difficult time”, Ogeah said.
