Gov Sule, Eggon Nation Grieve Over Murder Of Chief Ben Ekom
Nasarawa State woke up on Tuesday August 4, 2020 to the shocking news of Chief Benjamin Y Ekom.
Chief Benjamin Ekom, until his gruesome murder was the immediate past Secretary General of the umbrella socio-cultural association of the Eggon people, the Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA), a multiple traditional title holder and a respected veteran journalist in Nasarawa State.
Like a shock waves, the news sent everyone wondering what could have been the reason for the gruesome murder of a 70-year old veteran journalist.
Among the early callers at the deceased residence were the traditional rulers in Akun Development Area, the Overseer of the Development Area as well as the Member representing Nassarawa Eggon West State Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
Gov Sule Condemns Murder Of Ben Ekom
The Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule has condemned the murder of chief Benjamin Y Ekom who was murdered on Tuesday August 4, 3030.
In a statement issued by Ibrahim Addra, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule received with shock the killing of a former Treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and Secretary of Eggon Cultural Development Association, ECDA Mr. Benjamin Ekom perpetrated by unknown persons in Washo Village of Akun Development Area of the state.
According to the statement, Governor Sule condemned in totality the killing of Mr. Ekom and all other peace loving citizens killed across the State by enemies of peace and progress of Nasarawa State and the country at large.
The Governor said: “Let me reassure all citizens of our state that we shall fish out these criminals, and shall not relent in our efforts to secure lives and livelihoods of all inhabitants of the State.
“Our prayers are with the families of all those who lost their lives in the hands of doers of evil in land.
“As a government we shall remain resolute and focused on the task of building a prosperous and peaceful Nasarawa state.”
Eggonnews Mourns Murder Of Veteran Journalist, Chief Benjamin Y Ekom
The Publisher/Editor of Eggonnews Community Newspaper, Mr Matthew Kuju has described the murder of Chief Benjamin Yakubu Ekom as murder taken too far.
The Editor said Chief Ekom was an astute, thoroughbred journalist who rose through the ranks as Information Officer to the positon of Director of Information and Protocol in the Local Government system before his retirement almost ten years ago.
“He was a great reconciler of disputes, an excellent Master of Ceremony, highly knowledgeable in protocol, a good mobiliser and lover of all notwithstanding one’s status in life,” the Editor said of Chief Ekom.
According to Mr Kuju, Chief Ekom was an embodiment of humility, jovial and a highly respected community leader who was always interested in working for the peace and progress of his immediate community, the Eggon nation and Nasarawa State as a whole.
He recalled his enormous and various contributions to the sustenance and development of Eggonnews newspaper over the years
He said considering the simple nature of Chief Benjamin Ekom, he was at a loss as to the reason for terminating his life and in the manner it was done, the gruesome murder, adding that Chief Ekom would not hurt a fly and often strove to live in peace with al manners of people.
He said the Washo community, Akun Development Area, Eggon nation, Nasarawa State and the journalism career have lost a great personality who absence would be felt for years to come.
While praying for the repose of his soul, the Editor prayed God to appease and comfort the immediate family members, the Washo community, Eggon nation, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and indeed Nasarawa State over the loss of the deceased.
He then appealed to the security agents to quickly swing into action to fish out the perpetrators of what he described as dastardly act that should attract maximum punishment.
Nasarawa State NUJ Condemns Murder
The Nasarawa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the attack and brutal killing of its former Treasurer, Benjamin Ekom of Federated Chapel by unknown gunmen.
In a statement signed by Salihu Mohammed Alkali and Sunday John, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Union described the attack on innocent residents of the State by criminal elements as one too many and urges that drastic and proactive measures need to be taken to protect lives and property in all nocks and crannies of the state.
The leadership of the union urged the security agencies to fish out the killers of the former Treasurer of the union to face the law and calls on members of the public to expose criminal elements in their midst to rid the state of criminals.
The union commended the efforts by the Federal and State Governments towards tackling insecurity, but however, wants them to do more and ensure that the people are save to go about their activities without fear to avoid escalation of the situation out of control.
The duo stated that the entire journalists in the state also, condole with the family and friends of the deceased and pray God to forgive his shortcomings and grand him eternal rest.
Hon Abel Condemns Killing
The Member representing Nassarawa Eggon West Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon Abel Yakubu Bala condemned in its entirety the killing of Mr Benjamin Ekom, former Secretary General, Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA) and former Treasurer, NUJ, Nasarawa Stare Council last night in his house in Washo, Akun Development Area of the state.
Hon Abel Bala who was received in the deceased House today by the District Head of Eva-Washo, Mr Malle Anzaku among other District Heads of Akun Development Area described the act as inhuman and barbaric.
The lawmaker who is the Minority Whip of the state assembly said that the contributions of Ekom to the development of Eggon nation, the journalism profession and the state at large will be greatly missed.
“I am here to sympathize and condole with the family, Eggon nation and Akun Development Area over the brutal killing of one of our own, Mr Benjamin Ekom, the former ECDA Secretary General.
“I condemn this act in totality as it is inhuman and barbaric, ”
The lawmaker called on the security agents to fish out his killers and punish them accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.
“I want to use this medium to call on the security agents to swing into action and fish out those who killed Mr Benjamin Ekom and punish them accordingly in order to serve as deterrent to others.
“As it will also go a long way in ensuring peace in the state and the country at large ” he said.
Yakubu-Bala urged the family and the entire Eggon nation to take solace in God.
He prayed for the repose of the deceased soul.
Responding, the District Head of Eva- Washo, Mr Malle Anzaku, thanked the lawmaker for the condolence and prayed God to bless him abundantly.
It would be recalled that Ekom was attacked and killed in the midnight of Aug.3 in his house in Washo, Akun Development.
It would also be reported that the lawmaker was received by District head of Eva- Washo, Mr Malle Anzaku, District Head of Alushi-Ginda Mr.Amos M. Dube and District Head of Wakama, Mr Adams Makka Nangba respectively.
Hon. Emma Yaro Demand For Justice For Late Comrade Benjamin Ekom, Who Was Killed By Suspected Fulani Herdsmen
The Overseer of Akun Development Area Hon. Emma Yaro has demanded that those behind the gruesome killing of Comrade Benjamin Ekom be brought to book.
Hon. Emma Yaro described the death of Comrade Benjamin Ekom as painful, callous and unacceptable.
He maintained that ” no matter how long it would take for the perpetrators of this nefarious act be arrested, justice must be done”.
Hon Emma Yaro further admonished the youth and people of Washo not to take law into their hands, as all relevant security agencies have started investigations into the matter and shall soon fish out the culprits.
The Late Comrade Benjamin Ekom was machete to death in his house by two suspected Fulani herdsmen who were still at large at press time.
Until his death, Comrade Benjamin Ekom was the former Information Officer of Akun Development Area Council, a former Secretary General of Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA), a Chieftain in Eggon nation, a social grassroots politician who was vocal and a friend to the downtrodden.
