The Akwa Ibom State Nigeria Union of Journalists is facing a difficult time following the surprise death of its two members in Uyo Monday.
The members are Patience John, a staffer of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (Television Service) and a member of the chapel as well as Esther Ukpe, a member of Federated Chapel of the union.
Patience is said to have died at a private hospital in Uyo early Monday while Esther was said to have slumped and was rushed to Police Clinic, Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo LKocal Government Area where she was pronounced dead by the medical personnel in the afternoon of same day.
Already, both corpses had been deposited at mortuary in Uyo.
Speaking with Straightnews, the union’s treasurer, Mrs Imaikop Robert said that Patience was hale and hearty last Friday during the 37th anniversary celebration of AKBC.
Robert who said she joined in escorting the corpse to mortuary expressed shock at her untimely death.
In an interview with Straightnews on Monday, Comrade Amos Etuk, the state State NUJ Chairman, described the death of the members as unfortunate and heartbreaking.
While commiserating with the bereaved families, Etuk advised members to always undergo periodic medical examination to determining their health status.
Samuel Abasiekong Abasiekong, a journalist, in his Facebook page wrote on Monday ”SAD, ESTHER UKPE IS DEAD.”
Meanwhile, during the unveiling of AKIRS Tax Sensitization Programme on Radio on Monday, the state Commissioner for Finance, Linus Akan; James Edet, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, and Chairman, Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS); NUJ Chairman, Amos Etuk, among others, observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls.
