Bayelsa: Investigative Journalist, Tukuwei Perry, Dies In A Boat Accident,  Colleagues  Mourn

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, has lost one of its members, Peremobewei Tobi Tukuwei Jnr, to a tragic Boat Mishap in Nembe Local Government Area of the Bayelsa State. He died on Wednesday, 25th October, 2023.

The Bayelsa State born Tukuwei was a Staff of DAAR Communications and also Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council in Bayelsa State.

Tukuwei was declared missing after the tragic incident occurred while he and two other journalists were travelling from Nembe Town to Okoroba Community in Nembe for the party’s governorship campaign.

According to eyewitness accounts, the driver of the speedboat in which they were travelling lost control as a result of turbulence. The boat capsized at about 1.00pm along the Nembe Creek.

In a Statement NGIJ President, Ayoyemi Mojoyinola, said that his death is a great loss to the Nigeria Media, Bayelsa State and NGIJ as a body.

He said his selfless service, determination and charisma,  stood him out of the crowd and among his contemporaries.

His loss he said is so painful, but stressed that God Almighty does what pleases him.

“Death is a companion of the living which we will all embrace one day, we are just pained by his sudden demise.

“We pray that God in his infinite mercy will give his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

Tukuwei, who hailed from Toru-Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State, was appointed Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign Council in Bayelsa Date early October.

He was a media and communications expert, and an alumnus of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance.

He was also a BBC-trained journalist who won the Best on Air Personality, Best Television Presenter in the Niger Delta as well as Bayelsa’s Best Journalist of the Year five years in a row from 2015-2020.

He was also a one-time Acting Head of Programmes Raypower FM Yenagoa before he was elevated to the National Network in Abuja becoming a co-anchor of one of AIT’s breakfast programme, ‘Kaakaki’.