Channels TV journalist Eneche Akogwu was killed in Kano city in Northern Nigeria last week while covering the aftermath of a major terrorist attack. Akogwu, 31, was a reporter and journalist for the privately-owned station.

Members of the Islamist sect Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the explosions, which killed over 170 people, reports say. This is the deadliest single attack by the group, which seeks to overthrow the government and institute Sharia law. Boko Haram spokespersons said that the attack was in revenge for the continued arrest and imprisonment of its members, Vanguard newspaper reported.

“We are saddened by the loss of Eneche Akogwu, who was by all accounts a courageous journalist, and for the lives of so many others lost in the attack on Kano city last Friday. Our condolences go out to Akogwu’s family, friends and colleagues at Channels TV,” said IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie.

Below, a statement from IPI’s Nigeria National Committee in response to the death of Eneche Akogwu:

ABUJA, Sunday 22 Jan. 2012 — The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute(IPI) received with shock the news of the killing of Mr. Enenche Akogwu, a reporter with the Channels Television.

Mr. Akogwu was reportedly shot fatally while performing his professional duties in Kano on Friday, 20 January.

IPI condemns this unwarranted brutal killing of an innocent journalist and calls on the government to make good its promise to find and bring the killers to justice.

IPI condoles the family of the slain journalist and all the families of all those who lost their lives in the senseless orgy of violence in Kano on Friday.

We also send our condolences to Channels Television and indeed the entire media community over the loss of this courageous journalist who died in the line of duty.

IPI urges the government, the security agencies and the media houses to take pro-active measures to protect our journalists especially in theatre of conflict.

We also urge our journalists to make their protection and safety their topmost priority while performing their duties.

Kabiru Yusuf,
Chairman,
IPI Nigeria National Committee

Raheem Adedoyin,
Secretary,
IPI Nigeria National Committee