Zamfara Asks DSS, Police, Civil Defence To Censor Media Reports

Governor Bello Matawalle led Zamfara government has asked the police, DSS, Civil Defence and the information commissioner to control media reporting of insecurity.

Naija News reports that State’s Information Commissioner, Ibrahim Dosara, told a joint briefing with journalists and security agencies.

Dosara stated that the directive was in “cognisance of the ill effects of fake news, unguarded utterances by members of both conventional and the social media.”

While insisting that Zamfara State wants action against “unprofessional conduct” in media reporting insecurity, the commissioner said such reports undermine its peace process to contain insecurity.

He said: “The state government realises that the print and electronic media activities, especially the social media handlers undermine the peace process of the state government.”

He said the government would not “continue to tolerate the unwholesome act”

“Consequent upon this, the state commissioner of information and security chiefs in the state have been directed to monitor the conduct of media practitioners in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, the DSS, the Civil defence and I, as commissioner, have been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance to professionalism in media practices.

“As well as cyber crimes and the violation of public peace, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.”