Governor reportedly bans 2 newsmen from reporting govt activities

The Governor of Nasarawa state, Tanko Al-makura has banned two journalists from reporting any government activity, reports say.

Punch correspondent, Umar Muhammed and Rabiu Omaku, a reporter with the Universal Reporters, an online platform, were asked on Tuesday, November 23, 2016 to stop reporting activities of the Nasarawa state government.

Reports say Governor Al-makura was not comfortable with the way the two journalists reported the alleged killing of some labour leaders by policemen during a protest in the state.

According to Punch, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ahmed Tukur, had earlier exchanged words with Muhammed.

The recent ban on the two journalists, allegedly brings to five, the number of reporters who have been black-listed by the Nasarawa state government.

The Chairman of the Correspondent’s Chapel in the state, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar, announced to journalists that Muhammed and Omaku have been banned by the Nasarawa state government, reports say.

Abubakar said “The Special Adviser to Governor Al-Makura has stated that the two of you (Muhammed and Omaku) have been banned for life from covering government house and government activities in the state. He said he was acting on the directive of his boss, Umaru Al-Makura.”

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Other journalists who have been reportedly banned from covering the activities of the Nasarawa state government are: Mary Amirikpa of the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service; Iliya Audu of the Nigerian Newsday; and Sofia Ogaze of Television Continental,