Osa Odia, the younger brother of a broadcaster, Hilary Odia, who was killed on Christmas Eve in Benin City, Edo State, tells ADEYINKA ADEDIPE how his brother was murdered in his prime
W hat is your relationship with the deceased and how would you describe him?
My name is Osa Odia and I am the younger brother of the deceased. I still find it hard to believe he is gone and it is difficult to refer to him as deceased. This was someone I grew up with. We did everything together until he got his admission into the University of Benin in those days. His death is still like a dream to me. He had always been everything not just to me but to my other siblings. He is not only a pillar to me but to my two sisters and two brothers. He was the first child of our parents and he did things according to his capacity. He was over six feet tall and had always been there for everybody.
We shared a lot of good moments. We attended the same primary and secondary schools before he moved to another secondary school. We slept in the same room when we were living with our parents. He was a jovial and witty person. In fact, he could be described as a comedian. That was why we were not surprised when he started presenting on radio and television after being employed as a cinematographer. You wouldn’t believe he was the same person talking on radio and television as he used different voices.
What other things was he involved in?
He is a member of Man O’ War Nigeria and a deputy commandant of finance. He was a positive person. He hated oppression and if you visit where we grew up, people there will attest to his peaceful nature. If you heard him shouting anywhere, rest assured that he was trying to fight for somebody who was being oppressed. That was the life he lived. If you talk to (his) colleagues at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Independent Television, and his neighbourhood, you will get the same comments about him. The family is still in shock (over his death) because nobody can say why he was killed.
The police said he was killed during a cult clash. Do you agree with their claim?
I can also tell you that he was not a member of any cult group and he would have been the first to admonish anyone who joined such a group. If you talk to his colleagues, I am sure they will tell you he didn’t belong to such a group. I don’t believe it (the police claim). That narrative is flying because there had been cult clashes in Benin in the past two weeks which resulted in killings. Due to that, it was easy to link it to my brother’s death. To us (the family), it was a clear case of assassination. He wasn’t the only one sitting at the place he was killed and he was shot from a close range on his neck, beneath one of his ears. The killer shot him to kill him. He (the killer) gave him (my brother) no chance to survive. We heard that another person was shot too. It was clear that he was the main target and those who were there said when he was shot, they (residents) thought that it was a firecracker that exploded only for them to see that blood was gushing out from his neck. They were surprised to see him bleeding and they found that those sitting behind him were also armed. They all ran away initially and when they converged to help, it was too late. It is unfortunate. My family, including my parents, are devastated. They are completely ruined because he was everything to the family. He was someone everyone looked up to for advice. If you called him for help, he would leave what he was doing and come to assist you.
How did his family receive the news of his death?
The entire family celebrates Christmas in our father’s house annually. This brings everyone, including the grandchildren, together. I was in my father’s house on that day resting when my younger sister called me and said that Victor, a friend of my late brother, called to tell her that my brother had been shot. So, she told me the hospital he was taken to and I went there with my two sisters only to find out that his corpse had been deposited in the mortuary. I said we were only told that he had been shot and we insisted that they bring out his remains. We asked who certified him dead but found out that he was brought in dead.
When was the last time you saw him and what were the major things you talked about?
The last time I saw him was about 3 pm the day he was killed. We were supposed to have a get-together for the kids in our grandmother’s house. We both got there together and he came into my car and gave me a pair of designer slippers as a gift. He also thanked me for encouraging him to go back to school to study Mass Communication which he completed on December 23. I told him that I was aware he had finished (his academic programme) and we thanked God for the achievement. He even helped with arranging the drinks before he left for the St Savior Police Station to try and secure the release of his mechanic friend who was involved in an accident with a car that left some people injured. However, he was not successful as the investigating police officer in charge of the case and the family of the injured were not at the station. So, he was told to come back after Christmas and he left for where he was killed in Esigie.
Are you aware of the preliminary finding of the police?
As of December 27, the case was transferred from the Esigie Police Station to the state headquarters ( of the police). The officer in charge of the investigation asked me some questions while Victor narrated what happened. He (Victor) also sustained injuries on his knees while trying to escape. I have also written a statement on what happened on that day. We went to the mortuary with the police to examine his corpse. The investigation has started and I am sure the police are aware it is a clear case of murder but the assailants remain unknown. However, the narrative that he got caught in a cult clash gained prominence earlier because of the cult killings in the last few weeks. We also know that some unscrupulous people can hide under the cult killings to perpetuate this evil act.
How is the family coping at the moment?
It is difficult for us. A lot of people are trooping into my father’s house to condole with us. We are Christians; we shouldn’t mourn like pagans but it is really difficult. I told my parents and family members to assume that he (my deceased brother) had travelled abroad. I am also consoling myself with that. I know he was already making plans to travel abroad. I am not meant to be the first child and I still believe I am not despite what has happened. He used to call me his second in command while I called him my leader and my boss. I will always believe he is alive.
How are his wife and kids coping? Or did he have any?
I can’t say for now because his wife left the house a year and a half ago. She prevented him from seeing his two beautiful daughters aged 15 and 12 years old. As of December 28, she had not come to my father’s house nor allowed the girls to come. We don’t know why she is doing this. But no matter the issue between them before my brother passed, she should have come. They were duly married and for her not to come after four days or send the girls is bad. Our family members informed her but I heard her response wasn’t good. I wonder how humans can behave in such a way.
Having claimed that your deceased brother was not a cultist, did he tell you that he was threatened by any group or individual?
The only act of threat I saw towards him was when his wife came to move her belongings. She came with her younger brother and his friend who threatened my brother. I was called to the scene and I told the boy to leave the compound. I also learnt recently that the boy sent voice notes to threaten my brother (before he died) that they would deal with him in this town. I have asked those my brother sent some of the voice notes to, to send them to me. I have told the police about the messages and they are eager to have it so that they can look at every piece of evidence to apprehend the killers.
What kind of support has his employer given to his family?
The management of ITV paid a condolence visit to the family on December 26. They also promised to do their best to help bring the culprits to book after we requested that they put pressure on the police and the state government because my brother worked for the society. His TV and radio programmes touched lives. He spoke against cultism and the killings in the state. They said he was one of their best hands and no one can say he had an issue with anybody in the office.
While I do not believe my brother’s murder was cult-related, I will urge those involved in these killings to desist from it. The government should also support the police and other security agencies. Benin City is not being policed rightly and the media should also let the Federal Government know what is happening in Edo State. The cult killings have become too much and something needs to be done to arrest the situation.
