Seasoned Journalist, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba Killed

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE with agency report

It was a black Sunday for the media industry, as one of Nigeria’s brilliant journalists, Dr. Adinoyi Ojo-Onukaba was reported dead.

Onukaba, a former Managing Director of the Daily Times Nigeria Plc, died at about 6pm on Sunday at a village near Akure, Ondo State capital.

He was on his way back to Abuja from Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he had joined other dignitaries to attend the inauguration of Obasanjo Presidential Library and the 80th birthday celebrations of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dr Onukaba was aged 57.

One of his relations, Mr Yusuf Itopa confirmed his death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Monday.

He said that late veteran journalist turned politician was knocked down by an oncoming vehicle while running into a nearby bush to escape an armed robbery attack.

Itopa who is devastated by the death of Onukaba said that three of them, including his driver were traveling when they ran into a blockade mounted by armed robbers.

He said Onukaba’s ‘s corpse was later deposited at a mortuary in Akure from where it will be brought for burial today in his hometown, Ihima, Okehi Local Government area of Kogi State.

The late Onukaba who was Senior Special Assistant on media to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had earlier lost his first wife, Rachael about five years ago.

He, however, remarried in 2015 to Memunat

Onukaba is survived by three children, two girls and a boy.

He started his journalism career in The Guardian in 1983 and made his mark covering the airport in Lagos.

Onukaba struck friendship with many Nigerian dignitaries on this beat, including former head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo.

The relationship with the latter blossomed into Onukaba writing the first biography of the retired General, titled In the Eyes of Time.