JOURNALIST ABDUCTED, TORTURED IN AKWA IBOM

By Ofonime Honesty

Ace journalist, Mr. Aniefiok Christopher, has been abducted by the youths of Eniong Offot Community in collaboration with the Acting Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Chief Sylvanus Okon.

Mr. Christopher, who reports for The Standard Newspaper, was investigating an alleged case of academic fraud at St. John's Primary School, Eniong Offot, Uyo Local Government Area.

He has been tortured and held at the "royal father's" palace since 9am of today.

Christopher has been in possession of incriminating video and pictorial evidences which gave credence to the
allegation that the management of the institution had connived with pupils' parents to perpetrate examination
malpractice during the recently held First
School Leaving Certificate Examination held in the school.

The headmistress and teacher were accused of receiving monetary inducement from parent to orchestrate the act.

On Thursday, July 20, 2017, Christopher had informed his colleague, Ofonime Honesty, about the development.

When the duo visited the school on Friday, July 21, 2017, the headmistress apparently went into hiding.

The Deputy Headmistress was briefed, but he declined to comment on the issue.

On Monday, July 24, 2017, Mr. Honesty had other pressing issues to handle, thus Christopher went on his
own to the school, and was beaten to pulp by youths of the community before being whisked away to the Paramount Ruler's palace where he has been grilled to
reveal the whereabouts of his colleague.
At exactly 11:47am, a call was placed across to Mr. Honesty using Christopher's mobile phone line.

He (Honesty) was invited to the palace under the guise of a media chat with the "royal father."

Honesty declined the invitation. At exactly 3;05PM, man claiming to be the youth leader of Offot Ukwa Clan, called Mr. Honesty using Christopher's phone line saying, "You think you are smart.

We must track you down. We have detained your colleague. Even if you come with a truck load of soldiers, we won't release him. We are detaining him at the
palace."

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Akwa Ibom state Police Command have been notified of
the development.

*Keep calm for more details*