Tordue Salem: NUJ, Bello, Lawan blow hot over killing of Vanguard reporter

Nasarawa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the brutal killing of Vanguard Newspaper reporter, Tordue Salem.

Recall that Salem, the newspaper’s House of Representatives correspondent, who had been declared missing since Oct. 13, was found dead in Abuja on Thursday.

The police said a hit and run driver confessed to killing the deceased around the Mabushi area of Abuja.The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba had while confirming the incident said Salem’s body was identified at a Wuse General Hospital morgue after forensic leads were recovered from his sim card found at the ‘Good Friends garage’ at Mpape.

However, a statement issued by Secretary of the union, Sunday John, on Friday, described the death of the journalist as one too many.

The union, while stating that journalists were vulnerable to attacks in the discharge of their duties, called on security agencies to continue to protect them.

It also urged the National President of the union, Mr Chris Isiguzo, to ensure that law enforcement agencies unravelled the mystery surrounding Salam earlier disappearance and also fished out the killers.

The council also sympathised with all journalists in the country as well as the family of the deceased and prayed God to forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has expressed his shock and sadness at the news of the death of a National Assembly Correspondent of Vanguard newspapers, Mr Tordue Salem.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi on Friday said, the Senate and House of Representatives of National Assembly, passed separate motions over the disappearance of Mr Salem, for him to be quickly found and reunite 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 thi