Sad: The Guardian Loses Correspondent, Wantu

Benue State’s The Guardian correspondent, Mr. Joseph Akaazua Wantu, has passed away.

The late Wantu, 62, died at about 11:00 a.m. yesterday, at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi, the state capital.

Reacting, on behalf of the Benue State Government, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Michael Inalegwu, described Wantu as “a dedicated journalist with a credible track record and objective reportage.”

He said: “The state would miss Joseph Wantu’s services. We pray to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss, and for the soul of the departed journalist to rest in peace.”

On his part, Chairman of the state Correspondent Chapel, Mr. Vande Tor’Acka, who commiserated with The Guardian over the sad development, said Wantu’s death came as a shock to all his colleagues.

Acka said: “It was so sudden. Just two weeks back, his health started deteriorating. On Saturday, we brought him to the hospital and he was really getting stable. Then, all of a sudden, we woke up today to his death.

“We consider it the will of God. We pray that God grant him eternal rest. You are aware that Wantu is a veteran in this profession, so it is a big loss, not only to this state, but also the nation at large.”

Wantu, who held a degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, has worked with Labour Newspaper as a reporter and Leadership Newspaper as state correspondent before crossing over to The Guardian as Benue State correspondent.

He was also former Vice Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Benue State.

He is survived by a wife, Mrs. Yemena Josephine Wantu, and five children.