PUNCH Akwa Ibom reporter Patrick Odey dies

A correspondent of The PUNCH, Patrick Odey, has died at the age of 63.

His son, Benedict Odey, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in a telephone interview on Wednesday, saying his father died in the early hours of Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

He disclosed that his remains had been deposited at a morgue in his hometown in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

He added that the family had scheduled a night of songs and tributes for Friday, 2 October 2026, while the burial and interment would take place on Saturday, 3 October 2026, in his hometown in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Odey, born on October 1, 1963, was married to Mrs Alice Odey, and the marriage was blessed with five boys and one girl.

The deceased attended Ntol Comprehensive Secondary School in Ogoja, Cross River State, and earned a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

Until his death, Odey was The PUNCH correspondent in Akwa Ibom State, with over 22 years of experience in the media industry.

He had previously worked with notable publications, including Post Express, Daily Champion and Daily Trust, before joining The PUNCH.

His career reflected a commitment to journalism, in-depth reporting and public-interest storytelling.

The news of his passing was met with tributes across the media community in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and the country, with colleagues describing it as “a great loss to the media industry”.

In a condolence message, The PUNCH_ Regional Editor covering the South-South and South-East, Olufowobi Olusesan, expressed shock, describing Odey’s sudden death as “very sad and painful”.

The PUNCH correspondent in Rivers State, Dennis Naku, described the deceased as open-minded and easy-going.

He added that he spoke with him on Sunday, 30 August 2026, and that he sounded healthy and full of energy.

In his tribute, Eyo Charles of Daily Trust said the deceased was his counterpart in Akwa Ibom State as the newspaper’s correspondent before joining The PUNCH, describing him as “a calm, humble and hardworking colleague”.

He said, “He was my counterpart in Akwa Ibom as a correspondent for Daily Trust before joining The PUNCH. He was such a calm, humble and hardworking colleague. May his soul rest in peace.”

Tony Itam Etim, a reporter with the Southern Examiner newspaper in Cross River State, recounted his personal and professional experiences with the deceased journalist, describing him as “a cerebral and committed journalist with a deep passion for his job”.

He added that before joining The PUNCH, Odey was the state correspondent for Champion Newspapers in Nasarawa State and had once served as chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel in the state.

“I have known him for more than 16 years, dating back to when we worked together at Champion Newspapers. Odey was a jolly good fellow. He was a very cerebral, committed and passionate journalist.

“He always met deadlines and was always at peace with everyone. He never had issues or disagreements with people. He was my in-law, and we had a deep personal relationship beyond our professional relationship. May God have mercy on him and may his soul rest in peace,” he added.