House member Yakubu Barde decry ban on broadcast of terrorists’ activities by NBC

A member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, Yakubu Umar Barde, has expressed dismay over what he described as 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.

Barde said he is constrained by the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission on the broadcast of insecurity in the country.

In a statement, he said as a Representative whose constituency (Chikun/Kajuru) is most hit by the activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, he was concerned about the move by the NBC to gag media houses from telling the stories of his people.

He said, “My constituency has 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 terrorists.”

Yakubu Barde noted that in the last few weeks, he has engaged the Media by granting interviews, raising motions on the floor of the house and sharing alarming data of the atrocities being perpetrated in his constituency by these terrorists.

He said presently 121 students of the Bethel Baptist High School, the 14 members of the family of the Emir of Kajuru and 16 residents of Anguwan Gimbiya in Sabon Tasha and many others are still in captivity.

The Reps member said the kidnappings have continued unabated, stressing that recently two young men were killed by bandits in Kagurdna Village, Kakau Ward in Chikun Local Government.

As an elected representative, he said he has used the Media/Press to give suggestions on possible solutions to this menace by advocating the use of technology and also seeking foreign assistance for the security agencies.

“I want to categorically state that I stand in solidarity with all pressmen 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,” he said.