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By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State Government has paid a condolence visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Chapter, to mourn the passing of member Adibe Emenyonu, a journalist with Thisday newspaper.
The condolence visit was led by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, accompanied by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, and Deputy Governor, Fred Agedo.
Austin Adibe Emenyonu, a senior journalist with ThisDay newspaper, passed away on October 17, 2025, in Benin City.
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The Commissioner described Emenyonu’s death as a significant personal loss and a blow to the journalism community.
The Commissioner prayed for God’s comfort and strength for the bereaved family and the union, urging journalists to prioritize regular medical check-ups .
Prince Afegbua said himself and the late Adibe spoke the previous day before his death and he was so full of life adding that, the news of his death was devastating.
Afegbua said himself and Adibe have known each other for years and he was very meticulous in his job.
“The death of Adibe, for me, is a personal loss because on Thursday, he called me. And in my usual manner, I called him Ogbuefi. I hailed him Ogbuefi, Ogbuefi.
“Then later in the evening, we started again. And I told him that we should make time to see. That I want to grant him an interview on a specific issue. I was excited, hoping he would come and talk to me. I was shocked when I was told that he is no more”, Afegbua said.
Earlier, chairman, NUJ, Edo State council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe thanked them for sharing in the pains of the union.
He said the death of the Correspondent of the ThisDay Newspapers was a shock to the union maintaining that he was present at the secretariat earlier before his death and there was no sign of him being sick.
Dr. Alenkhe said that the union places premium on the wellbeing of its members just as he said a team of medical professionals led by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State chapter was invited to attend to Journalists in the state and journalists took time to get themselves examined.
