Insecurity: Who Will Tell Our Stories? – Lawmaker Questions NBC Directive

Member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, Yakubu Umar Barde has berated the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over its directives that television and radio stations in Nigeria should not divulge “details” of the activities of bandits, terrorists and Kidnappers in their reports.

Gatekeepers News had reported that NBC in a letter dated July 7 directed radio and television stations not to “glamourise the nefarious activities of insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers ” in their reports.

In his reaction, Barde, in a statement he personally signed, noted that he is most hit by the activities of these bandits, terrorists and Kidnappers and it is therefore pertinent that he lent his voice “to this crafty move by NBC to gag media houses from telling the stories of my people.”

The lawmaker stated that his constituency has benefitted from the role played by the media to let the world know that his “constituents have been killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped and have their villages occupied by these terrorists.”

Gatekeepers News reports that he recalled that in the last few weeks, “I have engaged the Media by granting interviews, raising motion on the floor of the house and sharing alarming data of the atrocities being perpetrated in my constituency by these terrorists.

“As I write this piece, 121 students of the Bethel Baptist High School, the 14members of the family of the Emir of Kajuru and 16 members of Anguwan Gimbiya in Sabon Tasha and many others are still in captivity. Kidnappings have continued unabated. Just yesterday, two young men were killed by bandits in Kagurdna Village, Kakau Ward in Chikun Local Government.”

“Who would have told the world our stories or which platform would I have used to let the world know the predicaments of my people? he questioned.

Barde added that “as an 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 assistance for our security agencies.

“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.”