For the umpteenth time within barely a couple of months, security agents have stormed the head office of DESERT HERALD newspaper again, arresting the Publisher/Editor – In – Chief of the weekly tabloid, Mallam Tukur Mamu. Mallam Mamu, who was arrested and detained in Abuja only recently by officials of State Security (SSS), was picked up by the police from his Kaduna office at about 5.30pm on Monday, February 8, 2009, and taken to the Kawo Police Station. He was subsequently taken to the police Zonal command in Bauchi, Bauchi State in a Hilux van with registration number (Kano) AA 321 DKD.
The DESERT HERALD’S current travail was said to have been orchestrated by the government of Yobe State which had obtained a court warrant over the celebrated poison scare involving that state’s governor, Ibrahim Geidam. Ironically, the story, which was published by DESERT HERALD last year, was later indirectly corroborated by none other than the Yobe governor himself, who cited a “military intelligence” report to buttress the government’s assertion that he was being targeted by assassins.
Commenting on the unexpected development, the weekly newspaper’s editor, Mr. Sode Abbah, who met Mallam Tukur at the Kawo police station shortly before he was moved to Bauchi around 6pm, said the whole thing came as a surprise to the management and staff of the five-year-old media organization.
According to him, “Though we understand that the Yobe State government was not comfortable with the said report, it is pertinent to note that subsequent developments, including that widely reported statement made by the governor himself, vindicated our report. Therefore it is surprising that the issues has been resurrected after such a long time and is being used to deal with our publisher and company like this”.
He added “We wish to call on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on those concerned to ensure the speedy release of our publisher more so as he has not committed any crime. Those in position of power should not use their privileged position to harass and intimidate innocent citizens in such a brazen manner.
Bilya Bala Waziri
said:
Emeka K Duru
said:
hamaseyo mohammed
said:
Shaibu Aguda
said:
Shaibu Aguda
said:
NaSo
said:
walor
said:
path follower
said:
NaSo
said:
egbesu
said:
Gentleflame (Denmark)
said:
The DESERT HERALD’S current travail was said to have been orchestrated by the government of Yobe State which had obtained a court warrant over the celebrated poison scare involving that state’s governor, Ibrahim Geidam. Ironically, the story, which was published by DESERT HERALD last year, was later indirectly corroborated by none other than the Yobe governor himself, who cited a “military intelligence” report to buttress the government’s assertion that he was being targeted by assassins.
Commenting on the unexpected development, the weekly newspaper’s editor, Mr. Sode Abbah, who met Mallam Tukur at the Kawo police station shortly before he was moved to Bauchi around 6pm, said the whole thing came as a surprise to the management and staff of the five-year-old media organization.
According to him, “Though we understand that the Yobe State government was not comfortable with the said report, it is pertinent to note that subsequent developments, including that widely reported statement made by the governor himself, vindicated our report. Therefore it is surprising that the issues has been resurrected after such a long time and is being used to deal with our publisher and company like this”.
He added “We wish to call on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on those concerned to ensure the speedy release of our publisher more so as he has not committed any crime. Those in position of power should not use their privileged position to harass and intimidate innocent citizens in such a brazen manner.
Comments (12)
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Bilya Bala Waziri
said:
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... Mhh, This arrested of our Alh. Abubakar Imam, is physical showing the world that your news paper is among the papers which are beyond the people of Nigeria, bcos he is arrested just you people told us the truth about what happen in that state. pls, don't be afraid of anything just keep doing yuor good job. |
Emeka K Duru
said:
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... Saharareporters is credible enough to launch a fund raising campaign to fight against tyranny.This is the only way to facilitate a thriving democracy.Please lead the way. |
hamaseyo mohammed
said:
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... The Desert Herald belongs to a new genre of media, which takes advantage of the fact that the average Nigerian is used to dysfunctional leadership, to publish sensational half-true stories, embellished with the writer's opinions, designed to keep the gullible reader spellbound and to make money for the publisher... just like Sahara Reporters. |
Shaibu Aguda
said:
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... This is what happens when power is in the hands of idiots...... oh! sorry monkeys. Stop the intimidation, start real democracy after all Nigeria is a country not a zoo where the biggest and powerful apes pushes every other around with no recourse what so ever... |
Shaibu Aguda
said:
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... This is what happens when power is in the hands of idiots...... oh! sorry monkeys. Stop the intimidation, start real democracy after all Nigeria is a country not a zoo where the biggest and powerful apes pushes every other around with no recourse what so ever... |
NaSo
said:
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... @Pathfinder, what is your beef? Why do you want a man's freedom taken from him before he has his day in court? If the man has done something wrong they should charge him to court, full stop. And stop all this endless harassment, arresting him and holding him for days before releasing him with no charge. And which one concern SSS in what he has published? They will not go and do their work -which includes infiltrating sects like Boko Haram, before they explode or having intelligence on when religious tension is heating up so it can be nipped in the bud. |
walor
said:
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... ...Bastard Nigeria..''Pikin'' without a mother nor father..even the father was last sighted about 70something days ago..Satanic Government. |
path follower
said:
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... The so called publisher of a junk paper Tukur Mamu is well regarded in the north as an epitome of embarrasment. He used his junk publication to peddle seditious stories against any credible non PDP politician. He took the art of blackmail to a higher ground by using his junk publication. The police should do a thorough job by unravelling his real backers. His associates should also be clinically investigated. He deserves no mercy.He is not what his mouth piece wants the unsuspecting public to know. He is a criminal who uses a junk paper to tarnish the good name of some public figures whom his backers wishes to embarrass. They should therefore face the police to clear their name instead of resorting to SR site for whipping up of a sentiment. |
NaSo
said:
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... What kind of yeye people do we have as Governors self? Last week it was Ohakim of Imo State beating a columnist now it is Yobe Governor chasing an editor.... Electoral reform is a must so that we can vote these people out. In fact only the fear of being voted out alone will calm them down. Nigeria;Good people, Bad Government o! |
egbesu
said:
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... Something is fundamentally wrong with Nigeria. I think only sincere military can bring sanity into that country. After all, what is the difference between the military and these useless politicians we have? Military now are been proven better by these bastards we call civilians. |
Gentleflame (Denmark)
said:
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... what is always wrong with my dearly beloved country, why do our selected ruler always want to be in the news negatively, when are we gonna stop transiting daily from one trouble to another, when are we gonna have a free society with press freedom as a banner, must we remain a BANANA REPUBLIC forever? |
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