The extremist sect, while claiming responsibility for Thursday's
attacks, says more bombings are coming the way of the media.The Jama'atu
Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, says
it attacked THISDAY Thursday 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 attacksThe 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 repeated 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