[ 2012-04-27 ]

A victim of Boko Haram attacks on ThisDay newspaper

Why we attacked ThisDay, others – Boko Haram
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.

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.”

Source - Nigeria | Vanguard

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