Stop Peddling Falsehoods Now”: Okon-Aku Issues Final Warning to Promise Uzoma Okoro (PUO) Over Defamation Claims
“Grief, anger, and a demand for truth have converged in Okon-Aku as community leaders break their silence over what they describe as “dangerous falsehoods” and “deliberate misinformation” surrounding their traditional leadership and a deadly January 2026 crisis. In a strongly worded rejoinder, the community group accuses a blogger of distorting facts, defaming revered institutions, and undermining ongoing efforts to secure justice for victims.”
“Okon-Aku community in Abia State has strongly denied claims that it lacks a recognized traditional ruler, affirming that HRH Eze Engr. Ndukwe Iko was officially installed in 2024. The community accused Promise Uzoma Okoro of defamation, misinformation, and failing to investigate the January 2026 crisis, vowing legal action and commitment to justice.”
Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia LGA of Abia State has issued a firm rebuttal to what it described as “blatant falsehoods, criminal defamation, and calculated public deception” allegedly propagated by Mr. Promise Uzoma Okoro (PUO).
In a joint statement by the Traditional Rulers Council, the Nnaka IV Cabinet, and the Okon-Aku Development Union (ODU), the community said it was compelled to respond in order to “set the record straight” and defend its integrity.
The statement specifically faulted Okoro’s claims regarding the absence of a recognized traditional ruler in Okon-Aku, describing such assertions as “entirely false, defamatory, and misleading.”
According to the community, “Nnaka IV of Okon-Aku, HRH Eze Engr. Ndukwe Iko, was duly installed in 2024 and officially recognized by the Abia State Government with a Certificate and Staff of Office.”
They added that the monarch is a bona fide member of multiple traditional councils, including the Ohafia LGA Traditional Rulers’ Council, Abia North Traditional Rulers’ Council, and Abia State Traditional Rulers’ Council.
The statement also reaffirmed the role of “Ezeogo Bernard Kama Igomini as the Ezeogo Okon-Aku,” noting that no court order has invalidated his authority or that of the council he leads.
“Enough Is Enough” — Community Raises Alarm
Condemning what it termed a pattern of misinformation, the community declared:
“Enough is enough. PUO’s public nuisance is unacceptable and legally actionable.”
Leaders accused Okoro of engaging in “criminal defamation, cyberbullying, and deliberate misrepresentation,” warning that such narratives could incite tension and distort public understanding of the crisis that rocked the community on January 2 and 3, 2026.
Allegations of Bias and Lack of Investigation
The statement further questioned Okoro’s credibility as a journalist, alleging that he had failed to conduct any on-the-ground investigation in Okon-Aku.
According to the community:
“His assertions rely entirely on hearsay from sources aligned with perpetrators of the January tragedy. He has neither visited the community nor engaged in balanced fact-finding.”
They described this as a “gross violation of journalistic ethics and integrity.”
Accusations of Abuse of Media Influence
The community also alleged that Okoro was exploiting his position within the Abia Online Publishers Association to “distort narratives, peddle half-truths, and manipulate public opinion.”
They warned that such actions represent “a dangerous abuse of media influence for personal or pecuniary gains.”
Community Grief and Call for Justice
Highlighting the devastating impact of the January crisis, the statement noted that several residents were killed, many injured, and properties destroyed, leaving families displaced and grieving.
The leaders stressed that:
“PUO cannot comprehend the depth of loss suffered by our people, yet he continues to trivialize the tragedy through reckless narratives.”
Commitment to Justice and Legal Action
Reaffirming its stance, the Okon-Aku community pledged continued cooperation with the Abia State Government, security agencies, and the Administrative Panel of Inquiry.
They emphasized that:
“All defamatory claims against the Okon-Aku Traditional Stool and the community will be met with appropriate legal action. Truth, tradition, and dignity are non-negotiable.”
The statement concluded with a call for unity, asserting that the people of Okon-Aku remain resolute in their pursuit of justice, peace, and restoration.
