Abuja — The Senate President, David Mark, Nigeria Labour Congress and French Foreign Affairs Ministry, Paris yesterday condemned the killing of the Guardian's Assistant News Editor, Mr. Bayo Ohu.

The French Ministry said it learnt with great shock, the gruesome killing of Ohu, at his residence in Odukoya Estate, Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos.In a statement, the ministry noted that, "we condemn such abominable crime and call on the Nigerian authorities to get to the bottom of this killing.

We express our sincere condolences to the deceased family, relations, friends, as well as to management and staff of The Guardian."We bring to mind our attachment to the freedom of the press, which is part of the principles of democratic societies. Its implementation will bring about the preservation and security of journalists."

Mark, on his part, tasked the Police to leave no stone unturned in the investigations into the murder.

Mark, who condoled with the management, staff and family of Ohu, said he was shocked by the news of the cold-blooded murder. He said that the gruesome murder should reawaken the strong desire to uphold the truth and the tenets of democracy.Mark said, "we are touched by the news of Ohu's murder, I sympathise with the family and the entire management of The Guardian Newspapers Limited and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss."

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also expressed reservation on the ability of the Police to apprehend the killers, because of its quick conclusion that he might have been killed by armed robbers.

In a statement signed by the NLC's Acting Head of Information, Mr. Onah Iduh, the Congress expressed alarm that violence and brutality against journalists was gradually creeping into the country, and called for protection of journalists, so as not to jeopardise the freedom of expression which is being pursued.

"We are particularly shocked and troubled that the murder of journalists has now become a recurring feature, since the brutal murder of Dele Giwa, founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine in 1996. Before the callous murder of Ohu last Sunday, a member of the Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspapers, the late Mr Abayomi Ogundeji, was killed on August 16, 2008," the statement read.

The Congress called for diligent investigations into the murder, instead of passing it off as an attack by armed robbers, especially in the light that nothing was allegedly taken away apart from his phone and laptop.

"It is even much more worrisome that in many instances of murders or assassinations, the police are quick to conclude without diligent investigation, that they were handiworks of armed robbers.

As an institution that is crucial to the security of any nation, the police must wake up to its basic responsibility of protecting lives - a fundamental priority that is germane to democratic and social development,"NLC noted.