* Chidi Okonkwo 


Abia Online Media Publishers, the umbrella body of Online media practitioners in Abia state  have written to the Commissioner of Police, CP Janeth Agbede, Abia State Government, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Civil Society Groups, and  other bodies   over what it described as 'barbaric and uncivilized threat' to its member  by one Chidi Okoronkwo to its member,  Nneka Torti, publisher of NewsLeverage, an online platform

Abia Online Media Practitioners, which is a chapter  of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria OMPAN, 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, drawing  the attention of the Commissioner of Police, CP Janeth Agbede, Abia State Government, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Civil Society Groups, and others to the threat on her member, maintained  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.

The group further urged  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 moreover  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: 

i.   Abia State Government

ii.  The Commissioner of Police Abia State Mrs Janet Agbede.

iii.  Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade John Emejor

iv.   The State Coordinator Liberty International, Abia State Chapter.

* Chidi Okonkwo