A former Executive Director, Marketing Communication of Globacom, Mr. Okon Iyanam, has been killed by gunmen.
He was killed on Wednesday at his hotel, Heritage Hotels and Resorts in Mowe, Ogun State, which was said to have been recently opened.
The assassination was confirmed in a statement by the elder brother of the deceased, Victor Iyanam.
He explained that a birthday party was going on at the hotel and the former Globacom staff was resting when the gunmen came at about 12.30 a.m.
He said the gunmen shot sporadically as they arrived and asked for the owner of the hotel.
When he was identified, according to the elder brother, they shot him at close range in the neck area and he died immediately.
The statement reads: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic death of my brother, Okon, in the early hours of Wednesday 27th June, 2018.
“Okonpapa had just recently opened his new Heritage Hotels and Resorts in Mowe, Ogun State where he spent most of his time trying to stabilise the management and sales techniques. He reported a successful ongoing venture.
“While a birthday party was going on in the hotel, some men, suspected to be either armed robbers or hired assassins crashed into the place at about 12.30 a.m. with sporadic gun shots. They asked for the owner. When he was eventually identified, he was shot at close range in the neck region. He stood no chance. He died instantly.
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“The Police first Responders then deposited his body in a Morgue. I rushed to Lagos upon the information delivered to me and confirmed for myself, the level of wickedness anybody could deliver to a man whose only crime was working hard for his livelihood.
“Okonpapa graduated from the University of Calabar in 1986. He started his career with UAC Foods immediately after his NYSC in 1987. Thereafter, he worked across almost all sectors of the economy. He worked with Akwa Ibom State Government owned Peacock Paints, serving as the Marketing Manager in Lagos; 33 Export Lager Beer, serving as the Area Manager, Makurdi; Glo GSM Network as pioneer Marketing Manager but later elevated to the position of Chief Operating Officer and eventually left Glo as Executive Director, Sales and Marketing.
“He, at some point also served as the Chief Marketing Officer, V-Mobile.
“Okon retired to consulting and later, farming in Mowe and Katsina. The Heritage Hotel was his latest and now last venture.
“He was interested in the Governorship of Akwa Ibom State and first used the platform of the PDP. When this was not possible, he bought the gubernatorial ticket under the platform of the Accord Party. He was a consummate Marketer and Social Commentator. He loved the Internet and used it effectively as a vehicle for the propagation of his ideas on wide strata of subjects. He was aged 52.
“We shall all miss him.”
