The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has reacted to an apology tendered by a popular online medium, Igbere TV after publishing a suspected false information about the Speaker, describing it as an afterthought laden with deceit, mischief and malice hidden in the garb of pretentious virtue.

Igbere TV had on Thursday published stories with the headlines, “Breaking: Igbere TV Boss Is Dead”, “BREAKING: ex-Abia Gov, T. Orji And Son, Chinedu Finally Arrested”, “BREAKING: Finally, Leader Of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu Arrested By Interpol”, claiming that its Facebook and website came under attack by some suspected hackers.

The Speaker in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Jude Chijioke Ndukwe on Saturday and made available to ABN TV accused Igbere TV management of allowing themselves to be used by political elements to attempt to wickedly but futilely disparage Mr Speaker and his father, Senator T.A Orji, insisting that the apology is both insincere and banal.

“The “Apology” by Igbere TV to the Abia State Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji MNSE, and his father, the former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia Central at the Senate, His Excellency, Senator T.A. Orji, is nothing but an afterthought laden with deceit, mischief and malice hidden in the garb of pretentious virtue.

“When we see a truly heartfelt apology borne out of genuine repentance, we know it. But this one by Igbere TV after making himself cheaply available to be used by political elements to attempt to wickedly but futilely disparage Mr Speaker and his father, Senator T.A Orji, is both insincere and banal.

“Having done their worst and seeing that all their evil machinations against Mr Speaker’s family are not working, the Igbere TVs of this world are now given to further deceive the public by putting up a lame and dispirited apology. Their game has failed!

“Finally, we urge Abians to beware of political merchants who parade themselves as bloggers but who will do anything including faking their own kidnap, “death and resurrection” to vainly attempt to destroy others just for filthy lucre” the statement read.

Igbere TV in a statement signed by its management had on Saturday stated that it has no hand in the publication, saying it was those who kidnapped the Director of the medium, James Emeh Anyalekwa on Thursday in Abuja that took control of the website, publishing information not properly verified.

“We wish to reiterate and state categorically that those reports did not in any way emanate from us, neither are we in any way connected to the false narratives or their sponsors on whose instructions those stories may have originated. We will never do anything that will harm our esteemed readers and followers.

“It is on record that on Friday March 13, we raised the alarm that our platforms (website, Facebook page) were attacked, compromised and accessed by hackers. The first thing they did was to delete all our admin from the platforms to stall any counter-post from us, disclaimer or deletion of their false stories while they perpetrated their evil acts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our indefatigable and uncompromising Executive Director Emeh James Anyalekwa was at about 7pm on Thursday, March 12 abducted around Kubwa area of Abuja and taken to an unknown destination until his release the next day, Friday, March 13.

“Like we earlier called the attention of the world to the sad development, while our boss was still in their custody, they used his phone to gain access to our Facebook page and website and planted the fake and misleading the reports in question.

“We couldn’t have published a story that our boss was dead after declaring that he had been abducted. To what end? We are well aware that the story was widely circulated, republished and broadcast in several online medium at will” the statement partly read.

The management of Igbere TV, a popular online news medium has apologized to the Senator representing Abia Central, Sen. T.A Orji, his son and Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and the Director of the news platform, Emeh James Anyalekwa over false publications that emanated from Igbere TV website and Facebook page on Thursday.

This follows the abduction of the Igbere TV Director, James Emeh Anyalekwa by unknown gunmen who whisked him away around Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.

In a statement signed by the management, Igbere TV explained that the false publications with the headlines “Breaking: Igbere TV Boss Is Dead”, “BREAKING: ex-Abia Gov, T. Orji And Son, Chinedu Finally Arrested”, “BREAKING: Finally, Leader Of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu (sic) Arrested By Interpol” came after the editors of the page were removed by some hackers who later took control of the website, posting at will.

The management maintained that it couldn’t have gone as far as publishing stories announcing the death of their boss after declaring his abduction, insisting that the stories are figment of the imagination of hackers who use their boss’ phone to take control of the website and Facebook page.

“Our attention has been drawn to several misleading and malicious reports published widely on our website and Facebook page, with the impression that such stories emanated from our highly dedicated and hardworking editors.

“Some of the fake reports include;
1. “Breaking: Igbere TV Boss Is Dead”
2. “BREAKING: ex-Abia Gov, T. Orji And Son, Chinedu Finally Arrested”
3. “BREAKING: Finally, Leader Of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu (sic) Arrested By Interpol”.

“We wish to reiterate and state categorically that those reports did not in any way emanate from us, neither are we in any way connected to the false narratives or their sponsors on whose instructions those stories may have originated. We will never do anything that will harm our esteemed readers and followers.

“It is on record that on Friday March 13, we raised the alarm that our platforms (website, Facebook page) were attacked, compromised and accessed by hackers. The first thing they did was to delete all our admin from the platforms to stall any counter-post from us, disclaimer or deletion of their false stories while they perpetrated their evil acts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our indefatigable and uncompromising Executive Director Emeh James Anyalekwa was at about 7pm on Thursday, March 12 abducted around Kubwa area of Abuja and taken to an unknown destination until his release the next day, Friday March 13.

“Like we earlier called the attention of the world to the sad development, while our boss was still in their custody, they used his phone to gain access to our Facebook page and website and planted the fake and misleading the reports in question.

“We couldn’t have published a story that our boss was dead after declaring that he had been abducted. To what end? We are well aware that the story was widely circulated, republished and broadcast in several online medium at will”.

It expressed surprise over the development, wondering what could be the motive of the hackers.

“We do not know the rationale behind such posts from the hackers or what they aimed to achieve, but all we know is that we hold the affected persons in the highest regard and could not have published any malicious statement that could affect their image or hurt their reputation.

“To this end, we hereby apologize to our boss, Emeh James Anyalekwa; Senator T. A. Orji and son, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji; and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and his followers. All the misleading stories have since been retracted from our platforms.

“Igbere TV has a clean and track record of running only factual news, established and genuine stories on its platforms. Over the years, we have become a reference point and final-stop medium for genuine news readers all over the world. We couldn’t have compromised such integrity and global reputation for anything.

“We remain committed, resolute and dedicated to Igbere TV’s core objective of providing an independent platform for unbiased news without fear or favour, irrespective of the continuous clampdown on journalists and media houses which negates the principle of press freedom.

“We will continue to stand for truth, justice and equity, irrespective of how uncomfortable it might seem to our detractors and haters at the moment, because a better and well refined digital media is all we desire for the people” it concluded.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) Worldwide has condemned the killing of Igbo, particularly the recent killing of the people of Ndiagu Orie Village, Umuoguduakpu-Ngbo Community, in Ohaukwu Lga of Ebonyi State by Suspected militia from Agila in the Ado LGA of Benue State, calling on the people to defend themselves.

OYC in a statement signed by the President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike while warning against any form of reprisal attacks called on the people of Agila to fish out the perpetrators to face the full wrath of the law.

OYC also reiterate its call to the governors of Southeast to make steps to establish Ogbunigwe, a regional security outfit to checkmate the activities of criminals in the region.

Read full release below..

(1) Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide had investigated the killings of Igbos at Ndiagu Orie Village, Umuoguduakpu-Ngbo Community, in Ohaukwu Lga of Ebonyi State by Suspected militias  of Agila in the Ardo Lga of Benue State, and OYC Condemned vehemently the killings of Igbos,its Barbaric and Rogue Operations of Some officers, and we give the people of Agila to fish out the perpetrators that carried out these attacks for peace to reign. 

(2)OYC Urge Youths not to resort to any form of Reprisal attacks to avenge the deaths of their loved ones, We are aware that Agila Warlords connived with rogue Security officers to revenge the missing of a Naval officer, but definitely the law must respected, but OYC call for Self Defence in all the border Communities for any eventuality, and We Urge the Governments of Ebonyi and Benue States to quickly establish a joint security Committee to ensure the culprits are apprehended. 

(3) OYC appeal to South East Governors to establish the South East Regional Security Outfit OGBUNIGWE, to safeguard Ndigbo, they should show Courage and do the needful, Southeast is not safe as our external enemies are capitalizing on our porous borders to kill our people, There’s no better time to have Southeast Regional Security Outfit OGBUNIGWE than now.