Hyacinth Chinweuba
A Lagos State based journalist, Chibuike Newman Osuji, who had been ill has died.
Osuji, who until his death was a journalist with the Source Magazine and an active member of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN). He was reported by his family to have died after a protracted illness that kept him as an in-patient at a Lagos private hospital for months.
The 52-year-old journalist, who hailed from Amato, Avuvu Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, was said to have passed on, in the early hours of last Sunday, March 3rd, 2019.
Since his death was announced, journalists on the Crime beat, his immediate constituency have been in mourning mood as Osuji who is survived by his aged mother, siblings and relatives was an amiable and committed member of CRAN largely loved by his colleagues.
Throughout his days in the hospital, CRAN members led by the President of the association, Mr. Odita Sunday of the Guardian Newspapers did their best in terms of prayers, financial and moral support to ensure that he recovered. Regrettably, death had its way.
In a statement by the leadership of CRAN, there will be a service of songs in his honour on Friday March 15, 2019 at his No. 1 Sikiru Alimi Street, Ijesha Lagos beginning at 5pm while burial arrangements would subsequently be announced by his family.
Some time in 2018, the late journalist’s sickness had reportedly begun as malaria and typhoid fever but when he was diagnosed in the hospital, a case of ulcer, which was dripping blood inside his system was revealed. His faeces was said to have been darkened with a drop in his blood level.
Due to the seemly-complicated nature of the illness at some point, he had to undergo comprehensive test at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to ascertain the real cause of his problem. Huge sums of money contributed by his family, friends, colleagues and well wishers to assist him at some point got exhausted, thus prompting CRAN to use the media platform to solicit assistance from members of the public. Regrettably, not much was realised.
“Osuji, service of songs being organized by CRAN and holding on 15th March, 5pm” Odita Sunday said.
As at press time, serious efforts were being made by members of CRAN to assist the family in giving the late Osuji a befitting burial.