FOLLOWING today’s release of Mary Ekere, a female journalist detained for two nights in Akwa Ibom, Cletus Ukpong, Regional Editor, South-South for the Premium Times, who broke the story of the reporter’s arrest, has been threatened with the same kind of treatment.

The threat was made by Cristo Ekpoh, a strong loyalist of Udom Emmanuel Gabriel, the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Ukpong had earlier written on the illegal arrest and detention of Ekere and shared the report on his timeline. But Ekpoh went on Premium Times Facebook timeline condemning the report. He tagged Ukpong in his reaction with claims that it was misleading.

“Misleading headline by Cletus Ukpong to tarnish the image of the governor. It should have been you that was thrown into prison,” Ekpoh stated.

When The ICIR called Ukpong on the tweet threat, he said that Ekpoh has been threatening him since he did a report on the poor condition public schools and travails of the school teachers in Akwa Ibom State.

The journalist added that Ekpoh also threatened to deal with him and members of his family, promising that he would be attacked anywhere he is found.

Ukpong in 2018 did a six part report which exposed the rot of public schools in Akwa Ibom State.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/premium-times-editor-under-threat-over-report-on-arrested-female-journalist/

Noted!