C/Riverians react as Jalingo mourns brother’s death

A cross section of Calabar residents have condemned the death in detention of Philip Agbebia Agba, younger brother to incarcerated journalist, Agba Jalingo, saying those responsible for Jalingo’s detention should be held responsible for his death.

Family sources had disclosed that the younger Agba, who until his death was a photo journalist, died on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at the age of 34, leaving behind a wife and two little children.

The sources said he has been buried in his hometown, Bedia in Obudu local government area in accordance with tradition.

Respondents, who spoke to our reporter on Sunday described as inhuman the refusal of authorities to set Agba Jalingo free for him to take care of issues in his immediate and extended family, including witnessing the funeral obsequies of his younger brother.

In a chat, Mr Clement Anthony, a computer analyst with Calabar-based Kingsvision Press Nigeria, described the continuous detention of Jalingo as unfortunate and called on the authorities in charge of his incarceration to show compassion.

“I feel for Agba Jalingo, especially with the painful loss of his younger brother. Who knows whether the young man would have survived if Agba Jalingo was there to take care of situations financially or otherwise. He was not even allowed to witness his brother’s funeral. It is very painful. For the sake of humanity which Gov Ben Ayade and other peace loving Nigerian advocate, let Agba Jalingo breath  air of freedom,” Anthony advised.

Also speaking, a petty trader in the popular Watt Market, who gave her name as Mrs Pat Ekpenyong, accused Gov Ben Ayade and everyone who has hands in Jalingo’s incarceration as indirectly having a hand in Jalingo brother’s death as well.

Her words: “I am very angry that such bad news should reach that young man, Agba Jalingo, while he is still being incarcerated in Afokong Prisons. Jalingo is a father figure to his siblings and now they want to wipe them all out. I detest this government for being so heartless and inhuman. If he was free, he would have played his part to help save his brother’s life. I am told that young man was sick, and who knows whether his brother’s presence and effort would have saved his life.”

In his reactions, Jeremiah Archibong, one of the editors of Cross River Watch, an online news medium published by Agba Jalingo, said “Jalingo’s incarceration has become a big blow to both his immediate and extended family. Even though man cannot play god, Agba Jalingo would have stepped up his efforts at saving the life of his brother if he was not dumped in prisons for no justifiable reason.”

Agba Jalingo was arrested on August 22, 2019 and charged with terrorism and cyber crime in Cross River state. He is currently remanded at the facilities of the Calabar Correctional Service, which was formerly known as Afokang Prisons.

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