PRESS STATEMENT

Abia Online Media Publishers, the umbrella body of Online media practitioners in Abia state and a member of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria OMPAN, has described as barbaric and uncivilized the latest threat by one Chidi Okoronkwo on her member Nneka Torti, Publisher of Online Platform, NewsLeverage.

The group reiterates that keeping the public abreast of developments around them, remains the duty of different mediums of Communication in Nigeria and as such do not see the reason why members of the public or those in government would threaten her members for exposing crime in the society.

Abia Online Media Practitioners in a statement jointly endorsed by her Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo and the Secretary, Izuchukwu Nwokoma, reminds Chidi Okoronkwo, that the threat to Nneka Torti over a post that revealed “How Six Persons Were Burnt Alive Over Failed Coronation” in Achara Ihechiowa in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, is a threat to the Association which would not be disregarded.

The Association, draws the attention of the Commissioner of Police, CP Janeth Agbede, Abia State Government, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Civil Society Groups, among others to the threat on her member, stating that it would not treat the matter with kid gloves as the Association owes it as a duty to lawfully protect the lives of her members.

Abia Online Media Publishers, also calls on the CP of Police to act on various harassments issued to practising Journalists in the State in the course of carrying out the function the constitution conferred on them, stressing that such threat(s) and harassment(s) have been swept under the carpet for too long and it is killing the spirit of good journalism.

The Association, however, demands an unreserved apology from the said Chika Okoronkwo whose chats bearing the threat on Nneka Torty was contained in a Facebook chat, warning that failure to do so within the period of one week of issuing this statement, the Association will have no other option than to pursue other legal means to make Okoronkwo face the full wrath of the law for his threat.

CC: Abia State Government

CC: The Commissioner of Police Abia State Mrs Janet Agbede.

CC: Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade John Emejor

CC: The State Coordinator Liberty International, Abia State Chapter.