……Accuse online platform of spreading state-backed propaganda, demand end to ethnic bias
Clergymen from the South-East, under the banner of the Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission, have decried what they describe as persistent, malicious media attacks against the region and its people.
In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja on Thursday, the group accused a particular online platform of serving as a propaganda tool for the Nigerian government, especially in its portrayal of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Signed by Rev. Tony Uzo Anthony, President-General and International Coordinator, alongside Apostle Tony Osu, Secretary-General, the statement was titled “We Must Set the Record Straight.”
The clergymen cited a recent publication dated April 29, 2025, titled “Police Dismantle IPOB Camp, Arrest Suspected Killer of Inspector”, which they claimed echoed unverified allegations from the News Agency of Nigeria.
“This report marks yet another shameful chapter in journalistic deception,” the statement read. “By amplifying baseless allegations against IPOB, the medium has positioned itself as a willing tool of oppression, bent on perpetuating ethnic bias.”
They further accused the platform—allegedly influenced by Fulani ownership—of ignoring due process and presenting a one-sided narrative, while turning a blind eye to the ongoing humanitarian crises in the North East and North West regions of the country.
“The silence over the atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen and terror groups in the North, including school closures, village raids, and daily loss of innocent lives, is both troubling and telling,” they said.
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The group called on the media outlet to cease what they termed as “state-sponsored propaganda,” and urged the organization to redirect its efforts toward exposing systemic governance failures.
“Nigerians deserve a press that holds the powerful accountable—not one that amplifies their lies,” the statement said. “Continued bias will only further erode the outlet’s credibility and tarnish the values of ethical journalism. The time for accountability is now.”
