Insecurity: FG’s Threat To Sanction BBC, Daily Trust, Sheikh Ahmed Reacts |Read Here
Controversial Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad has condemned the federal government move to sanction BBC Africa Eye and Daily Trust Over on Terrorism.
The two media firms had done an expository reports on political insecurity, its genesis, and how bandits virtually took control of the incessant insecurity in several communities in the North West. A report that did not sit well with the federal government.
But in a statement released on Friday by the cleric commended both firm for boldly revealing the magnitude of insecurity that’s witnessed in the country, faulting the federal government on how they have gone about with tackling insecurity which has become a lucrative business for criminals and few others in the corridors of power and authority
He state; “FG’s attempt in trying to find a scapegoat to justify its glaring failure after wasting over $16 billion in the last seven years without any commensurate result on security and efforts to blackmail certain media organizations for their patriotism in reporting the crisis is unfortunate and should be resisted by all responsible media organizations,” he said.
Gumi who believes that the documentary captured the realities happenings in Zamfara state opined that the report was done professionally and with the highest ethical standards urged the media firm not to cower by the threats of the federal government.
He wondered why the government could not use such independent discovery to squarely address the crisis, rather than sanction the producers.
He alleged that the government’s attempt was to blackmail media houses so as to cover its failure and divert public scrutiny into high-level corruption in military spending and budgetary allocations.
“What is happening in Nigeria today, especially in the North West as clearly captured by the BBC, is more of an ethnic war and reprisal killings and attacks due to the government’s failure to address well-documented instances of injustices that were initially done to the Fulanis,” he said.
“What do you expect from a society (Fulani) that was left in total ignorance and lack of education, especially when their primary means of livelihood (cattle) has been completely rustled by other criminal elements within and outside our security agencies without any effort by the government to address the injustice.
“As I talk to you now, cattle rustling has not stopped. Many law-abiding Fulanis have fallen victims to the official extortion of their cows. I have well-documented evidence involving some security agents in which I personally intervened. How do you expect as a government to address insecurity, especially related to Fulani bandits without addressing such instances of extortion and rustling?”
He advised the government that rather than using the instruments of authority to silence or blackmail the media, the security chiefs should be held accountable and responsible for any failure.
“When a Commander-in-Chief rewards failure with ambassadorial appointments in a system and a society that records increased attacks, when security agencies cannot even protect Abuja and especially when the Guards Brigade cannot even protect themselves not to talk of the President, then why blame the media for such failure and ineptitude for reporting it?” the cleric queried.
