From INIOBONG SUNDAY, Uyo
Angry people of Ukpum Ete, an oil – bearing coastal community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have decried the misleading media reports over the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old boy, Elijah Jackson.
It gathered that Jackson was shot dead by a soldier on February 25.
Addressing journalists in Uyo, aggrieved residents under the aegis of Ukpum Ete Unity Association, UEUA, said the killing of the teenager followed a fracas involving the soldier and some diesel thieves, wondering why some media reports painted a wrong narrative, labeling the community youths as oil thieves.
A communique signed by UEUA’s President, Mr Eno Etuk akpan and the Secretary-General, Emmanuel Akpan, demanded a retraction of the reports.
“We received several news reports from national and local media houses, as well as social media platforms on the killing of our beloved son with sadness and shock.
“He was 17 years. The sole intention of these media houses is not only to mislead and misinform the general public, but invariably to paint Ukpum Ete community in bad light.
“Ukpum Ete Unity Association is averse to this jungle journalism exhibited by some media houses based in Akwa Ibom State,” Etukakpan averred.
The association, therefore, called on the media houses to retract their “one sided” news reports within seven days of this rejoinder, failure of which they would have no option than to follow the path of law to ensure justice and redress.