The Jama’atu
Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, said
yesterday that it attacked Thisday newspaper’s offices in Abuja and Kaduna to
send a strong message to the media that it would no longer condone reports
misrepresenting it in the press, or blaming it for acts it knows nothing about.
Abul Qaqa, spokesperson for the sect told
Premium Times, in an exclusive interview, that his organisation was fed up with
the deliberate misinformation being peddled about it in the Nigerian and
foreign media.
“We have
repeatedly cautioned reporters and media houses to be professional and
objective in their reports. This is a war between us and the Government of
Nigeria; unfortunately the media have not been objective and fair in their
report of the ongoing war, they chose to take side,” Mr. Qaqa said.
He identified three instances where he claimed
his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to
him, was the rumour of his capture by the Nigerian intelligence agencies.
“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa,
they know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of
Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates
interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that
Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two,” he said.
Premium Times had continuously reported that
Abul Qaqa was not arrested contrary to reports and that it was Abu Darda,
another member, that was arrested.
The second misrepresentation, according to Mr.
Qaqa, was the reporting on the kidnappings of foreigners in the Northern part
of Nigeria.
“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the
north; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with
reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot
of things which I never said during that interview.”
The third example, Mr. Abul Qaqa said, is the
mistranslation of the video the group posted recently.
“Another example is the recent video posted on
YouTube by our Imam; I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again.
There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or
issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried
very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why ThisDay appeared specifically
chosen for the attack, Mr. Qaqa said ThisDay’s “sins” are more grievous.
“It is not only THISDAY that has been engaged in
negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake
stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against
us yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and
responsible bystander in this war.
“But the sins of THISDAY are more,” he said.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001
and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is
false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
Expect more media attacks
The group’s spokesman further warned of more
attacks on the media.
“We have just started this new campaign against
the media and we will not stop here, we will hit the media hard since they have
refused to listen to our plea for them to be fair in their reportage,” he said.
Mr. Abul Qaqa also said his group would
give further information on biases by the media.
“In the coming days we will give details and
instances where the media have not been fair to us and why we are going to
attack them as well.”
Media should be neutral
“The media in Nigeria are not a problem to us if
they will do their job professionally without taking sides,” Mr. Abul Qaqa
said.
“But each time we say something, it is either
changed or downplayed. But when our enemy says something even without logical
proof, it is blown out of proportion.”
“We have repeatedly asked some reporters to
retract some stories or even give us the right of reply but none of these
requests were given to us.”
No comments:
Post a Comment