The Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben
Ayade of Cross River State, Mr. Christian Ita, has debunked reports
trending in the social media that Calabar, the state capital had allegedly
come under military bombardment.
Ita described the report as unfounded and untrue, adding that it was
fabricated by twisted minds for devious purposes.
Ita, in a statement issued Tuesday said the claim of bombardment of
Calabar or any part of the state is baseless, as there was no such thing
in the state.
His words: “There is no military raid going on in Calabar. And there has
been no bomb attack in the state capital. The only military expedition
that took place sometime last week was an operation undertaken by the
Nigerian Airforce to flush out criminals along the Cross River/Akwa Ibom
waterways, which is far removed from towns and civilian population.”
Ita who disclosed that the said military exercise only lasted for a day,
further warned: “As long as we cannot dissuade or prevent anybody from
pursuing any course they deem fit, they should leave Cross River State out
of their clandestine campaign and look elsewhere. All pictures purportedly
showing places that were bombed were all simulated and products of
Photoshop.”
The Chief Press secretary is particularly alarmed that peddlers of the
mischievous information have gone to the extent of simulating photographs
to paint the picture that Calabar is under siege or military bombardment.
He therefore urged the public to disregard the antics of mischief makers
who are desperately trying to whip up public sentiment for their parochial
agenda.