Danjibga was abducted in his house in Samaru Community in the heart of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital on Sunday at about 8p.m. but his dead body was found in a soakaway pit behind his house on Wednesday.
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, has asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and other security agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS) to launch immediate thorough investigation into the abduction and subsequent killing of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) reporter in Zamfara State, Hamisu Danjibga.
Recall that it was reported that Danjibga was abducted in his house in Samaru Community in the heart of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital on Sunday at about 8p.m. but his dead body was found in a soakaway pit behind his house on Wednesday.
The IPI, while demanding immediate investigation into the journalist’s death in a statement issued on Thursday by its Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi, said that Danjibga’s relations said that his abductors called twenty-four hours after the incident and allegedly demanded N1 million as part payment before they placed full ransom for his release.
The IPI Nigeria described the circumstances surrounding Danjibga’s abduction and killing as shocking and deeply concerning, saying that the brazenness with which Danjibga was abducted and killed in a major city like Gusau is an indication of how unsafe Nigeria has become.
“IPI Nigeria therefore, reiterated its call for a swift and thorough investigation into the abduction and murder of Hamisu Danjibga to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. It also called for increased security measures to protect journalists and citizens in all parts of Nigeria
“Hamisu Danjibga was one of the journalists reporting the activities of criminal elements, especially armed bandits, kidnappers and their collaborators.
“We believe he was targeted because of his profession as a journalist”, IPI Nigeria said, adding that “Unless the perpetrators of this heinous crime are arrested and prosecuted, they are likely to become emboldened and will go after other journalists.
“IPI Nigeria reiterated its call for protection for journalists and other media professionals across Nigeria, whom it said, are strongly committed to upholding good governance and democracy by protecting the ethos of whistleblowing, as well as freedom of expression in the Country,” the statement added.