For the second time in less than two weeks, death has visited the media empire of Lagos businessman, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, suddenly plucking away another veteran journalist. Ace Photojournalist, Tunde Ogundeji, Photo Editor of Daily Newswatch, died in his house last Sunday (September 22).

Ogundeji, who celebrated his birthday on March 29, lived in in Sango Otta, Ogun State, from where he commuted to work at the head office of Daily Newswatch on Lagos island in neighbouring Lagos State. He died just 11 days after another veteran journalist, Mr. Augustine Madu-West, Kano Bureau Chief of National Mirror, also owned by Brarister Ibrahim, died on September 12. The 53 years old Madu-West died at his residence in Dakata area of Kano metropolis after a brief illness.

A dedicated Photojournalist, Ogundeji experienced the hazards of the job, including poor salary that hardly came, and unwarranted brutality. The former Photo Editor of Nigerian Compass died shortly after the first year anniversary of his being battered in Ikeja, Lagos, on September 13, 2012 by illegal train passengers whose pictures he tried to take.

His death has left friends and colleagues in deep shock, with some of them posting condolence messages on his Facebook page.

According to Foluso Ogunmodede: “Sad, we have just lost one of us; a gallant journalist.” On his part, Olaito Salami wrote: “Omo oguns, o da rin na ko, o di gbere, o do ju ala. Rest in peace. I just wish & pray that ur death will serve as a lesson to all of us. Let us watch our health, do away with what is injurious to our health. Life is good and that is why we must put a stop to untimely deaths.”

The Jimoh Ibrahim media group, which seems to have a policy of not honouring its dead staff by way of stories, had been criticised by angry journalists for not reporting the death of Augustine Madu-West.

•Photo shows the late Tunde Ogundeji shortly after being assaulted in the course of his work about a year ago in Lagos.

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