The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has condemned in strong terms the killing of a prominent journalist in Ondo state, Olubunmi Afuye during a bank robbery in Ilara Mokin in Ifedore local government area of the state, describing it as a personal loss.
This was contained in a press statement issued and signed by Mr Richard Olabode the Chief Press Secretary to the governor and made available to journalists in Akure.
Bunmi, who until his demise was a Public Relations Officer at the Elizade University, Ilaramokin, was shot by armed robbers who were robbing a bank in the town.
According to the statement, the Governor is deeply touched by this dastardly act that has cost the Journalism profession a bright and upcoming star.
“He was particularly close to us; we all admired his candour and carriage, especially his brilliant delivery at functions he compered that we had reasons to grace. His demise is not just painful. It is very pathetic and unbearable”, Mr Governor says.
Governor Akeredolu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the wife and children, family, the University community as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over this loss that he considers a personal one.
Meanwhile, a specific directive has been given by the Governor that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to book in the shortest possible time
The leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council has also described the untimely death of Olubunmi Afuye as the highest level of callousness, wickedness and unforgivable act of cutting short life of one of their Brightest, Cerebral and Versatile colleagues.
It is indeed a case of ‘Sunset at Noon’ in Ondo State journalism fraternity.
This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman Adetona Aderoboye and Secretary Leke Adegbite.
According to the statement, the council will surely miss Bunmi’s huge contributions to Ondo NUJ and unionism in the state as he anchored last December’s NUJ Press Week and this year’s Workers’ Day celebrations free of charge while many of our members had benefitted from his media expertise.
We register our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the wife, children, family, Media Professionals (especially those at ORANGE FM/OSRC), Friends as well as Elizade University, Ilaramokin where Bunmi was recently appointed as the Public Relations Officer, over this irreparable loss.
We equally condole families and colleagues of the policeman and Motorcyclist killed in the bank robbery.
While declaring Seven Days of Mourning in honour of our slain member popularly known as “BUMBAM”, Ondo NUJ demands that security operatives should do everything humanly possible to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice within the shortest time.