The Lagos Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on Mr Rotimi Pedro the owner of AFRO-SPORTS, who the late Mr Kola Omoniyi went on an assignment for, before he was shot by members of IPOB in Anambra state last week, to as a matter of urgency, compensate the family of the deceased.
The late Omoniyi and some sports journalists in various departments, were on official duty to cover the recently held AFCON 2025 qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria, slated in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
They were ambushed by suspected members of IPOB in Iseke, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. Late Kola Omoniyi, a police officer and the driver of a coastal bus were killed by gunshots, four of them had fled into the bush while the others who all were Afro Sports journalists, were captured by the IPOB members, before, the rescue operations of the military, 34 Brigade in Owerri, Imo State and 302 Artillery Regiment in Anambra came to their rescue.
Chairman of Lagos SWAN, Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni, in a press statement on Monday, while commiserating with the family of Kola Omoniyi, Management of Afro Sports, wants a deserving compensatory package for the journalists rescued in the attack and most especially to the late Kola Omoniyi’s family, who is known to be a professional per excellence in his field and also one of the best hands in Africa broadcast industry when it comes to camera operations.
“I want to commiserate with AFRO-SPORTS on the untimely death of Kola Omoniyi and for the collateral damage the incident might have caused other journalists involved.
“The emotional damage, trauma and shock the noblemen experienced are not what one should wish for anyone.
“We have been in constant communication with the Defence Headquarters, the head of the military operations in the southeastern state and the Commander of General Support in the region. The Defence Headquarters have played a significant role and rendered a list of support on this incident and I am glad that a reasonable number of them were able to survive this horrible attack through the help and timely intervention of our military forces, who immediately engaged their medical team to take charge and ensure the shock and tension are subsided immediately after they were able to rescue our people from this evil attack.
The Lagos SWAN would like Mr Rotimi Pedro and the entire AFRO-SPORTS management to do the needful by taking over the full medical treatment of these journalists as they were also injured and compensating them.
“We want due compensation to the family the late Kola Omoniyi left behind. No amount of money can be compared to the value of life, and losing a loved one in a tragic attack like this is not a good memory. So, due compensation to Kola Omoniyi’s family and other journalists involved in the attack will be appreciated.
“We appeal to Mr Rotimi Pedro of AFRO- SPORTS to take quick action as three lives have been lost already in the process and as it stands, one of them (Quadri Abdul) is yet to be found”.
“The executive committee wants to also appeal to AFRO-SPORTS management to always put in place adequate security when embarking on long-distance journeys in the future as it is important we secure human lives at every cost.
“We understood through the commander of the team in the rescue operations led by Col. Muhammad of the Nigerian Army Artillery Regiment under the supervision of GOC 82 Division, that one of the mobile policemen attached to the buses was not armed. It was opined that they might have embarked on the journey without an official release from their command. One of them was even in mufti, and one was eventually shot by the IPOB members.
“Looking at the unfortunate incident and the hazard of the work we are doing as journalists, Lagos SWAN wants to appeal to all media organizations across the country to put in place functional insurance packages and pensions for their staff henceforth. Those that have already should show more interest in this because it is very important.
“Journalists face different levels of situations daily in the discharge of their duties to the society, hence the need to value their lives and welfare,” Oladunni said.
“We are glad the late Kola Omoniyi’s body has been exhumed by the military forces from the shallow grave the suspected IPOB members buried him. The body is currently in the mortuary fully supervised by the military.
One of the team members, Quadri Abdul, who travelled to cover the 2025 AFCON qualifier game in Uyo, is still missing and the military forces are still in search of him in the bush, we pray for his safe arrival so he can reunite with his family.
