The Aluu-4 parents, who are the parents of the four University of Port Harcourt students who were killed in the ALUU Community in 2012, have pleaded with Netflix and seasoned blogger Linda Ikeji to delay the release of their new movie, “Dark October,” which is about the deaths of their four children.
The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace, a rights organization that represents families,
According to the initiative, Linda Ikeji made the movie about their late children without getting their permission.
However, TIFPI’s Executive Director, Livingstone Wechie, claimed in a statement released in Port Harcourt yesterday that the film, which was made without the four families’ permission, has rekindled the already-dormant anguish brought on by the terrible death of their children.
Wechie remarked: “The attention of the four families who lost loved ones in the tragic Aluu 4 tragedy has been drawn to a much-promoted film dubbed “Dark October,” which, as mentioned therein, was made by well-known blogger Linda Ikeji.
For the record, and this is regrettable, Linda Ikeji made the film without obtaining the approval of the impacted families and parents of the infamous Aluu 4 victims.
Linda Ikeji is asked, “Can you cry more than the bereaved or do you not have some conscience and humanity in you as the parent that you have become?”
He claimed that Ikeji killed the four innocent students on her own initiative and without thinking to contact their families, adding that because of Ikeji’s actions, the victims had no relatives.
“For the nth time, the four affected families—the parents of the late Lloyd Toku-Mike, Chiadika Biringa, Ugoing to Obuzor, and Tekena Elkanah—have given me written instructions through my organization, The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative TIFPI, to represent them and see that justice is served in this case.
“This is to the effect that Linda Ikeji failed, rejected, and neglected to obtain the agreement of the afflicted and families/parents of these lads whose identities and the account of the Aluu 4 incident form the entire essence of the aforementioned movie. She acted both of her own free will and on a whim.
“It is important to state that Linda Ikeji’s inexcusable and desperate action on this bloody story in what is now known as Aluu 4 or Uniport4 may falsely or cockily indicate that these innocent boys do not come from homes and this is not only illegal, it is also inhumane and un-African of one who should know better,” the statement continued.
Wechie stressed that the movie is based on a real incident and noted that the families should have been consulted prior to the shooting.
He urged the corporations to put a stop to the scheduled premiere and make an effort to meet with the families of the four kids who were running late.
“To this end, we hold that Linda Ikeji’s production and dissemination of this video without the approval and consultation of the affected families/parents is insensitive, malicious, and inappropriate on behalf of the parents/families of the Aluu 4.
We, therefore, demand that Linda Ikeji and her business partners—Netflix, FilmOne Entertainment Company, etc.—retract and halt all further actions, including the premiere scheduled for February 3, 2023, and any other date pending and subject to consultations and express consent of the affected families who are the victims of the entire assault.