Hon Yakubu Barde, House of Representative Member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, has faulted the new directive given by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC for caution in divulging “details” of the activities of bandits, terrorists, and Kidnappers.
Hon. Barde in a press statement urged media practitioners to sustain the tempo, stressing that complying with such narrative would be gagging the press.
It would be recalled that the agency, on July 7, 2021, circular signed by Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, titled ‘Newspaper Reviews and Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, warned media organizations against “glamourizing the nefarious activities of insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers”, while reporting in the country.
Hon. Barde said, “I find it strange that the commission would be more interested in detailed reportage instead of factual reportage, which is akin to gagging the press against press freedom as enshrined in the constitution.
“As Elected Representative, I have used the Media/Press to give suggestions on possible solutions to this menace by advocating the use of technology and also seeking for foreign help to assist our Security personnel.
“I want to categorically state that I stand in solidarity with all pressmen and media houses and want to indulge them to keep telling the stories of atrocities being committed by terrorists across the country while being professional in carrying out their duties.”