The Zamfara Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) confirmed on Wednesday the murder of Alhaji Hamisu Danjibga, the state correspondent of the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

A statement issued in Gusau by the state NUJ Secretary, Ibrahim Ahmad, said that the body of the deceased was found dumped in a soakaway by those who murdered him.

“The discovery of his corpse was a result of an unpleasant odour observed by children of an Islamic School behind his house in the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.

“After breaking the soakaway, the dead body was confirmed to be that of Danjibga by his family and some neighbours,” the statement said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Danjibga had been missing for three days before his corpse was found.

Sources said that the family was initially contacted to pay one million naira for his release, but the figure was raised by the faceless persons suspected to have murdered him.

NAN also learned that the police had arrested one person suspected of involvement in the killing of the veteran journalist.

The NUJ extended its condolences to the deceased family, VON, and the entire people of Zamfara.

It urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to justice.

The deceased has been buried in Gusau according to Islamic injunctions.