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.
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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."
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