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.”
