The immediate past Minority Whip in the 8th House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Barde on Saturday expressed displeasure over the directive issued by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on the activities of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.
Hon. Barde in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune, while expressing solidarity with the Nigerian Media, argued that the fate of his Constituents who have become prey and victims of kidnappers, bandits and terrorists would not have been known to the world without the Media.
While urging the Commission not to gag the Media in the discharge of its statutory functions, the Kaduna lawmaker lamented that no fewer than 151 people within his Federal constituencies including the 121 Students of Bethel Baptist High School are still in kidnappers’ den.
He said: “I am constrained by the news on credible media outlets to make this statement in regard to a strange directive from the National Broadcasting Commission to television and radio stations in Nigeria not to divulge ‘details’ of the activities of bandits, terrorist and kidnappers in their reports.
“As the Representative whose constituency (Chikun/Kajuru) is most hit by the activities of these bandits, terrorist and kidnappers, it is pertinent that I lend my voice to this crafty move by NBC to gag media houses from telling the stories of my people.
“My constituency have benefitted from the role played by the media to let the world know that my constituents have been killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped and have their villages occupied by these terrorist.
“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 14 members of the family of the Emir of Kajuru and 16 member of Anguwan Gimbiya in Sabon Tasha and many others are still in captivity. Kidnappings have continued unabated.
“On Friday, 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 use to let the world know the predicaments of my people?
“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 assistances for our security agencies.
“I want to categorically state that I stand in solidarity with all press men 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,” Hon. Barde stated in the statement.
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