“Zakariya Isa, 41, a reporter and cameraman with the state-run Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), was shot dead in front of his residence in Maiduguri, capital of the Northeastern state of Borno, on Saturday 22nd October 2011, around 7:30 p.m. local time, Sale Mahdi, news manager of the local NTA bureau, told CPJ. Moments before the murder, the gunman and another man had approached Isa to borrow a water kettle, supposedly to perform ritual Islamic ablutions before prayer, Mahdi said. Isa had been on vacation since Friday, he added. http://allafrica.com/stories/201110250293.html
The wicked killing of the Isa by Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group which seeks the imposition of Shariah law in the predominantly Muslim states of northern Nigeria, has sadly increased the known killed journalists in Nigeria who were killed by known and unknown persons or groups, with confirmed and unconfirmed motives. Days have gone and till now, Nigerians are still waiting to see the necessary steps by the federal government to trap down the culprits of this mayhem who parade themselves around boasting that they are responsible for the murder. “Today, Boko Haram, disclosed it was behind the killing, according to local journalists and Agence France-Presse. AFP cited an email statement in the local Hausa language from Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa, in which the militants said they "killed Isa not because he was a journalist but for his personal misconduct." The statement added: "We killed him because he was spying on us for Nigerian security authorities," according to AFP. "We have ample evidence that he was giving vital information to security agencies on our mode of operation that led to the arrest of many of our members." http://allafrica.com/stories/201110250293.html
Journalist Isa is only one out of the many journalists that been murdered. A statistical study and analysis shows the number murdered victims of journalist in Nigeria.
“Statistical Analysis :
8 Journalists Killed in Nigeria/Motive Confirmed
Sunday Gyang Bwede, The Light Bearer
April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Nathan S. Dabak, The Light Bearer
April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Bayo Ohu, The Guardian
September 20, 2009, in Lagos, Nigeria
Samson Boyi, The Scope
November 5, 1999, in Adamawa State, Nigeria
Sam Nimfa-Jan, Details
May 27, 1999, in Kafanchan, Nigeria
Fidelis Ikwuebe, Freelancer
April 18, 1999, in Anambra, Nigeria
Okezie Amaruben, Newsservice
September 2, 1998, in Enugu, Nigeria
Tunde Oladepo, The Guardian
February 26, 1998, in Abeokuta, Nigeria
7 Journalists Killed in Nigeria/Motive Unconfirmed
Edo Sule Ugbagwu, The Nation
April 24, 2010, in an area outside Lagos, Nigeria
Eiphraim Audu, Nasarawa State Broadcasting Service
October 16, 2008, in Lafia, Nigeria
Paul Aboyomi Ogundeji, ThisDay
August 16, 2008, in Dopemu, Nigeria
Godwin Agbroko, ThisDay
December 22, 2006, Nigeria
Bolade Fasasi, National Association of Women Journalists
March 31, 1999, in Ibadan, Nigeria
Chinedu Offoaro, The Guardian
May 1, 1996, in Nigeria, Nigeria
Baguda Kaltho, TheNEWS
March 1, 1996, in Nigeria, Nigeria.
Beats Covered by Victims :
13% Business
25% Culture
25% Human Rights
75% Politics
One may wonder why the government has continued to keep silence over these series of the murder of journalists in the history of Nigeria at least in this known recent case. This chorionic silence has a lot message to communicate. It could be interpreted as accordance and consonance; and in this case, with the same reason that made Boko Harem to murder Isa, they do not want any spy. I do not think the work of the journalists as ‘watch-Dogs’ in this country is very much appreciated and tolerated, otherwise, a serious committee to protect the journalists should have been established by now. This is one of the reasons why evil thrives much in our country. Seeing this retrospective study, one may not blame our journalists today who do their job under tension and fear of death. The moment the media practitioners loose the protection of the state, then, the basic ethical principles of media practice would be in danger of being exercised. The government should give attention to the freedom of the press in Nigeria.
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