Zamfara gov’t apologises for shutting down NTA, FRCN station, others
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
The Zamfara State Government has apologized for shutting down the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s (FRCN) Pride FM Gusau, and three other private broadcast media stations.
Others shut down are Gamji TV, Gamji FM, and Al-umma TV which are privately owned.
It could be recalled that the Zamfara Government had ordered the shutting down of the aforementioned media houses for violating Executive Order No.10 and abusing journalism practice.
However, on Monday, Dr Abdullahi Shinkafi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman, of Zamfara State Committee on Prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences handed an apology to the Media while addressing a press conference in Gusau.
Shinkafi said the government was angered by the alleged violation of Executive Order No.10, 2022, which came into effect on October 13.
The government, in the Order, banned all forms of political rallies and meetings in the state due to security concerns, suspended all political activities in the state, and totally shut down Anka, Bukuyum and Gummi local government area roads and other affected towns and villages affected by order No 10, 2022.
Part of the order reads: “In the exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 5(2), 176(2) and 315 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I honourable Dr Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) MON, Executive Governor, Zamfara State, following the recent spate of attacks and killing of some innocent souls in some communities across some local government areas of the state, particularly Gusau, Tsafe, Gummi, Bukuyum, Anka Bungudu, Maru, Maradun and Laura Namoda, a resurgence of some activities of banditry, recent cases of kidnapping in their communities and some major federal high ways in the state.
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“And in an effort to curtail the menace of armed banditry and other related crimes in the state as well as the need to widen the scope of measures taken by the government so as to strengthen the fight against banditry and other forms of social vices in the state, do hereby issue the following Restrictions Orders;
“The Order may be cited as Restriction of movement and banning of all political activities Order No. 10, 2022 and shall come into operation on the 13th Day of October 2022.
“From the commencement of this Order: All political activities in the state have been suspended until when the security of the state improves. Political meetings and gatherings at individual residents are also banned with immediate effect.
“Total shut down of Anka, Bukuyum, and Gummi Local government areas, roads as well as Yarkufoji Birnin Tudu, Rini, Goran Namaye, Janbako, Faru, Kaya, Boko Road, Bakura to Lambar Damri Road, Mayanchi Daki Takwas to Gummi road Daki Takwas to Zuru road Kucheri, Bawa Ganga, Wanke road, Magami to Dangulbi road and Gusau to Magami road until when the security improves in the areas.
“All movements are henceforth restricted in the mentioned local government areas and towns.
“Danjibga, Kunchin Kalgo and Bagega Markets are hereby closed until when the security of the affected areas is restored.
“All security agencies are hereby directed to arrest anybody found violating the restriction order.
“Mobile courts are hereby established to deal with violators of this Order.”
Shinkafi said that the affected media organizations violated the Order by covering an alleged “illegal political activity” of the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare, in Gusau on Saturday.
He said the “illegal political gathering” led to a security breach by some youths of the two political parties, saying “the police had confirmed that one man was shot dead and 18 others injured during the event.”
Shinkafi noted that the government’s action of shutting down the media houses attracted unprecedented reactions and criticisms from various organizations and agencies including the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI), among others.
He urged the Media organizations and all Journalists to respect the state laws and support the government in its effort to tackle banditry and kidnapping in parts of the state.
