Nigeria: Gunmen Kill Newspaper Boss in Kaduna

The General Manager of a Kaduna-based weekly newspaper, New Democrat, Uztaz Yunus Adam, was on Friday night assassinated at his residence in Ungwa Dosa, Kaduna North local government area of Kaduna State shortly after breaking his fast.

Although the Kaduna Police Command Public Relations Officer Aminu Lawan, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident, he however maintained that it was a case of robbery, and not assassination.

According to Lawan, "it was a case of arm robbery; the robbers came and demanded for some items from the man. They collected some items and thereafter shot him dead."

He said the police have already commenced investigation into the incident and will not leave any stone unturned to apprehend the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, a neighbour to the deceased, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the man was assassinated by a group of seven assassins, who came in a Tricycle (KEKE NAPEP), with the man who killed him wearing a mask.

"Please I don't want my name mentioned. The man was my neighbour, and according to a family source who also does not want his name mentioned, shortly after the prayer for breaking of fast was called, he went to the mosque and prayed, then came back for break his fast.

"He then went inside the bathroom to ease himself only to come back to meet his family with the group of seven young men with his wife, one of them wearing a mask, and it was the one wearing the mask that actually shot him dead after ordering the family members into a room.

"They came in KEKE NAPEP (tricycle) and zoomed off thereafter, not carting away any of their property".

When the publisher of the New Democrat Newspaper, Senator Mukhtar Ahmed Aruwa, was contacted, he described his late General Manager as a fine gentleman, who will be missed.

On whether it was a case of armed robbery or assassination, he said, "It cannot be a case of armed robbery; they did not take anything from his house. They only took away their phones."

He said he will ensure that the police carry out a thorough investigation into the killing.

Meanwhile, all efforts to speak to the family members were turned down, as they were still in shock over the killing of the late GM.

He has however been buried according to Islamic rite.