Valuechain Magazine condole with NUJ, Channels TV, govt over Owolabi, Umar’s death

-By Saidu Abubakar

The entire management and staff of the Valuechain Magazine condole with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Channels TV and family members of late Precious Owolabi, an NYSC member serving with the organisation, who lost his life while covering the recent Shi’ites protest that led to clash with the Police in Abuja.

Speaking in Abuja on the ugly incidence, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Alhaji Musa Bashir Usman, lamented the unnecessary clash that caused the loss of the life of the young corper while on his legitimate duties.

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He also condoles with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspctor-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu over the loss of DCP Usman Umar’s life, also during the clash. 

According to Alhaji Usman, both government and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) need to dialogue with a view to bringing to an end, the continuous loss of innocent lives each time the followers of the sect came out on procession or protest.

“Unfortunately, this reoccurrence is coming at a time the nation is putting everything together to find its bearing, after having had a lot of crises in the past and now concentrating to find focus.

“There can’t be meaningful development in a situation of crises and unrest already beclouded by unending abductions, armed banditry and other social vices and societal norms.

“It is high time Nigerians began to settle down and start reaping the fruits of democracy rather than primitive crises such as which persistently occured between some ethnic nationalities, religious sects and the Nigerian security operatives, leading to loss of lives and properties,” he furiously mentioned.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased the clash claimed in Abuja, urging for an end to it.

The IMN members, followers of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, for the umpteenth time, had stormed the streets of Abuja in protest of the continuous detention of their leader since 2015.

In their bid to contain the situation, the Nigerian Police Force ended up in an unfortunate clash with the protesters, leading to the death of Precious Owolabi and DCP Usman Umar, alongside some members of the protesters whose number of calamity couldn’t be immediately ascertained.

A number of arrests, the police reportedly claimed, have been made as a result of the deadly clash.