The Nigerian journalism community has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran journalist and PUNCH Newspapers correspondent, Patrick Odey, who passed away at the age of 63.

Odey died in the early hours of Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in Akwa Ibom State, according to his son, Benedict Odey, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The late journalist was the Akwa Ibom correspondent of PUNCH Newspapers and had built a career spanning more than two decades in journalism. His death comes after years of reporting on political, social and security developments in Akwa Ibom and other parts of the country.

Odey began his journalism career with publications including Post Express, Daily Champion and Daily Trust before joining PUNCH Newspapers, where he continued to cover events in Akwa Ibom State.

He held a Bachelor’s degree in English Language from the University of Port Harcourt and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism.

With more than 22 years of experience in the media industry, Odey became a familiar name among journalists, government officials and other stakeholders in Akwa Ibom through his regular coverage of the state.

His reports for PUNCH covered a wide range of issues, including politics, security, governance, crime and community affairs.

Some of his recent reports included stories on security incidents and developments involving the Akwa Ibom State Government and other institutions across the state. His most recent published works also reflected his continued involvement in daily news reporting despite his long career in journalism.

His death has left colleagues and members of the journalism community mourning the loss of a reporter who spent more than two decades contributing to the Nigerian media.

Details of his burial arrangements were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.