February 7, 2010
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.
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.
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