Topic: LEADERSHIP, Daily Trust, The Nation Newspapers siezed by Soldiers In Minna  (Read 1672 times)

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Despite the claim by military authorities that the siege on some selected newspapers was partially over, armed soldiers in Niger State have continued to intimidate and confiscate copies of LEADERSHIP, The Nation and Daily Trust in Niger State, stopping their circulation.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the copies of the three newspapers had been intercepted continuously at a military checkpoint after Chanchaga, about 10 kilometres from Minna.

As early as 6am yesterday, parcels of LEADERSHIP were impounded at the Kilometre 10 military checkpoint in Minna, while another set of armed soldiers stormed the distribution centre.

This move is contrary to the denial by defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, who said that the military had found nothing wrong with the editorial content of the affected papers and that the papers were now being distributed freely.

LEADERSHIP can report that for four days running, in addition to the newspapers being seized at the checkpoint, officers and men of 31 Field Artillery Brigade had been drafted to Fleet Street in Bosso, Minna from where newspapers are distributed, to make sure that none of the three newspapers circulated in the state.

Soldiers had been stationed up until noon each day, to make sure that none of the three titles were on the newsstands. Newspaper distributors and vendors in Minna were warned not to sell any of the three newspapers, as anyone caught doing so would be dealt with.

A man who was found with a copy of LEADERSHIP he bought from Suleja – the only place where the newspapers could be found in the state – was harassed and instructed to disclose where he had gotten the newspaper when he was apprehended in Minna by some soldiers.

All efforts by the commissioner for information in Niger State, Malam Danladi Ndayebo and the secretary to the Niger State government, Hon. Idris Ndako Kpaki, to get the military to release the newspapers being impounded at the checkpoint were still unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the 31 Artillery Brigade, Captain Salisu Mustapha for comment failed, as he could not be reached by phone. The chairman, Niger State Newspaper Vendors and Distributors Association, Mr. Festus Elijah, however said, “We are ready to sell any paper, but you have to help assure us that no member of the association will be harassed by the soldiers.

“The sad thing is that it is only Niger State that military are still laying siege. We have contacted other states and reports from there showed that sales of all papers has resumed.”

 

Security checks on newspapers will continue
– Military

The Nigerian military has said that the clampdown on the media would continue until the current security situation in the country has improved. Director of defence information, Maj Gen. Chris Olukolade, while explaining to journalists yesterday the reason for the continued confiscation of newspapers and search of vehicles conveying them, said the exercise was necessary as long as the present security challenges persisted.

Olukolade, speaking during the national briefing on the efforts to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls, appealed to media house owners and the general public to bear with the military. He insisted that the security checks on newspaper vans were informed by information linking the movement of materials with grave security implications to vans conveying newspapers.

Olukolade said the military had no problem with the media and would not for any reason hamper their activities.

“Please bear it in mind, this is not a military clampdown. Whatever checks you see is not aimed at disturbing the business of the media and that is why we would like to correct the remarks being made about what is going on.”

Source: Leadership

 

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