The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reacted to the threat by the Federal government of Nigeria to sanction it over allegation that it aired documentaries glorifying and fueling terrorism, banditry in Nigeria.
Already, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a N5million fine on the multimedia wing of Media Trust Limited for its “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story”.
Also fined are MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (DSTV owners), NTA-Startimes Limited, and Telcom Satellite Limited (TSTV) – N5million each.
The NBC said the fine was imposed because the media organisations aired documentaries on banditry and terrorism.
Reacting the development, BBC insiders said the Nigerian government wants to hush the media, while also adding that they were trying to trivialize the magnitude of the security crisis that has plagued the nation.
They averred that the Nigerian government is trying to force the media to underreport the extent of damage done by non-state actors (NSAs).
“We published another one (documentary), and will do more because it’s about the people suffering”.
“They (government) did not impose a fine on us because they know they could not do so.
“What they can do is write to the agency that regulates us, the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
“They definitely would ask Ofcom to take disciplinary actions; they cannot do anything other than that.
“After Trust TV spoke with the victims, we interviewed the NSAs – Ado Aleru, the one turbaned, and Abu Sanni who led the Jangebe school attack,” the source added.
It’s really disheartening that such magnitude of insecurity is perpetrated, yet, under reported and public misinformed.
It’s appalling that wanted terrorists held celebration in broad daylight without any attempt to arrest or challenge them.
Instead of sanctioning culpable security agencies for failure to perform their statutory function to arrest and curtail the terrorists, Federal government is pontificating about imposing fine on the media for exposing the lie, complicity, duplicity and failure of those in authority.
The security situation has gone from bad to worse. Unfortunately, those in the corridors of power live in another world. They are the only set of people who believe that the security situation in the country has improved.