Zamfara Orders Reopening Of Closed Broadcast Stations, Apologises

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has ordered the reopening of five broadcast stations in that were shutdown on Saturday night.

The media houses include the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gusau, Federal Radio Corporation Pride FM Gusau, Al’umma TV, Gamji FM, and Gamji TV.

READ ALSO: Zamfara Shuts Down 4 Media Houses for Covering PDP Rally
The Government, in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, alleged that the affected media violated its Executive Order and abused journalism practice.

However, the closure of the five media organisations by the state government attracted reactions and criticisms from various individuals.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, the Chairman of the State Committee on Prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences, Abdullahi Shinkafi, handed an apology to the media stations on behalf of the governor.
Shinkafi said the government was angered by the alleged violation of the the Executive Order No.10, 2022, which came into effect on Oct. 13.
The government, in the Order, banned all forms of political rallies and meetings in the state due to security concerns, suspended all political activities in the state and totally shut down Anka, Bukuyum and Gummi Local government areas’ roads and other affected towns and villages.

Speaking further, Shinkafi said the government has since withdrawn the order given to the commissioner of police to arrest and prosecute personnel seen around the affected media houses.

Shinkafi disclosed that the government has also withdrawn the security forces deployed to the media houses to allow the workers to resume their work.

He urged the media organisations and all journalists to respect the state laws and support the government in its effort to tackle banditry and kidnapping.