Nigeria Military Vacates Daily Trust Premises After FG Directives

The Federal Government has directed the military to vacate the
premises of Daily Trust and the order has been complied with.

The government in a statement by Garba Shehu the Official
Spokesperson to the President on Sunday night said that issues
between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage
of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue.

Garba Shehu tweet is below

The Federal Government has directed the
military to vacate the premises of @daily_trust^[1] and the order has been
complied with. Issues between the military and the newspaper as
they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be
resolved through dialogue.

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) January
6, 2019^[2]

The military had invaded Daily Trust regional office in
Maiduguri, Borno State and arrested the Regional Editor, Uthman
Abubakar and a reporter Ibrahim Sawab. They also requested to see
the Political Editor, Hamza Idris whose name has appeared in
bylines of major exclusive and investigative reports.

Though it is not clear why the military took the action, but the
Daily Trust on Sunday published a strong editorial and news reports
on security challenges in Northern Nigeria.

Some of the lead stories include:
“Military Prepares Massive Operation to Retake
Baga, Others,” “Zamfara Bandits May Have Link with Boko Haram,
-Defence Minister,” “Shettima Funds 20,000 Civilian JTF for six
Years,” and “Troops Repel Boko Haram Attack in Damasak… Kill Many
in Yobe.”^[3]

The Editorial titled “FG is Running Out of Excuses” highlights
some of the humanitarian challenges in the North-East and the
efforts of the military in tackling Boko Haram insurgency.

The Editorial pointed out that the Borno community leaders at an
emergency meeting of security agencies summoned by Governor Kashim
Shettima expressed fears that insurgents could push on from Baga,
overrun Monguno and on to Maiduguri.

The Editorial further acknowledged the successes of the military
in repelling three attacks on Monguno with Air Force raids that
halted the insurgents in their tracks and killed many terrorists.
It also commended the effort of the military in launching a major
offensive to retake the lost towns and bases.

The Editorial nevertheless asked some hard questions and
proffered suggestions. It stated thus: “From all indications there
is no multinational force in the Lake Chad region, and we must ask
why it is that Chadians, Nigeriens and Cameroonians do not seem to
be around anymore.

“We however commend the Niger Republic forces that last week
killed 200 Boko Haram terrorists in their south eastern Diffa
Region.

“Despite fortunes reportedly spent on armaments, it is clear
also that our military lacks enough force and firepower to
eliminate Boko Haram once and for all.

“This is very unfortunate. The country is at war and has been so
for nearly 10 years now. Even though many successes were recorded,
we expect the Federal Government to drop everything else and go for
the best weapons, equipment and munitions wherever it can find
them.

“Armoured helicopter gunships, mine-resistant APCs, drones, the
latest machine guns and abundant munitions are some of the weapons
needed to finish this war, and we believe that this country has the
resources to acquire them from any available sources provided
government rearranges its priorities.

“We must also do whatever it takes to bring our neighbours back
into the war. Boko Haram is a threat to all of us but they need our
material support to be able to fully mobilise for this war. We
should provide it. Honestly, the Presidency is running out of
excuses,” it concluded.

However, the newspaper says the whereabouts of arrested staff
remained unknown after armed Nigerian security agents stormed the
office and shut it down on Sunday.

The paper reported that: “Daily Trust’s regional editor, Uthman
Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab were whisked away by a
combined team of soldiers, DSS and Civil Defence officers,
according to witnesses’ accounts.

“It is not clear why they took the action but it may be
connected with the lead story of Daily Trust on Sunday on military
operation in the North East.

“Daily Trust also learnt that the military shut the gate of the
Maiduguri regional office, after arresting the two editorial staff
on sight at the time of the raid.

“A witness also noted that the soldiers requested to see Daily
Trust’s Political Editor, Hamza Idris, whose byline appeared on the
story.”