Fear still grips journalists 48-hours after Kaduna bomb attack

SOJ Plaza is located in the heart of Kaduna metropolis close to the ever-busy Kano Road junction. The plaza is just a stone throw from Jos Road, the commercial centre, popular as a location for newspapers distribution in Kaduna state. Although no journalist sustained injuries from the explosion, the shock from the attack was still […]

SOJ Plaza is located in the heart of Kaduna metropolis close to the ever-busy Kano Road junction. The plaza is just a stone throw from Jos Road, the commercial centre, popular as a location for newspapers distribution in Kaduna state.

Although no journalist sustained injuries from the explosion, the shock from the attack was still giving them a kind of nightmare as at press time.

The North-West Bureau Chief of the Sun Newspapers, Malam Ismail Omipidan, said he had never imagined that such a thing could happen at such a close range to him.

“The truth is that I have been covering such attacks in the last few years,  but I had never imagined that it could happen this close. God and prayers saved the day. Although, the police have secured the place, even if they had not it would be unwise to resume work there today (last Friday). Not out of cowardice, but on the need to exercise caution.

“At any rate, a reporter who is alive to tell the story is the hero, not the one who is dead. However, the incident will not discourage me from carrying out my job. I’m not a saint, but at the risk of sounding immodest, I have got conscience. It has been my guiding principle on this job. And all those who have encountered me on this job can testify to my claim. So once you are guided by your conscience and you discharge your duties with the fear of God, you should not afraid. God will be there for you,” he said.

On his side, the Bureau Chief of The Moment in Kaduna, Malam Garba Mohammed, said he was not ready to return to the office now because of the shock.

“Since we narrowly escaped the explosion, I have not been to the office. In fact, I don’t want to pass through the area because I’m still in shock. My secretary at the office is in the hospital as a result of depression. Even if the building were not cordoned off by the police, we will not go there because we are afraid that bombers might still come back,” he said.

He appealed to the police to beef up security at all media houses in order to ensure that journalists are safe.

But the Bureau Chief of Thisday in Kaduna, Mr. John Shiklam, said the attack on media houses showed that no journalist in the country is safe again.

“I didn’t go to the office because right from day one, I was not comfortable with the location and the security arrangement at the place. These attacks in Abuja and Kaduna show that no journalist is safe again in the country,” he said.

He urged journalists to be vigilant, be very alert to the security situation of wherever they find themselves.

“Journalists need to take precautionary measures to avoid further attacks. Security needs to be beefed up at press centres,” he stressed.

The circulation officer of The Sun newspapers in Kaduna, Mr. Chinadu Olelewe, said he was managing to overcome the trauma of the incident.

“I’m still in shock because we cheated death by the whiskers. I thank God for surviving it, but frankly speaking, I’m still in shock. I’m managing to overcome the shock,” he said.

He said the incident, in no small measure, affected his job and that he  had relocated to Jos Road to sell his newspapers.

Reacting to the attack on the media location, Kaduna State Governor,Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa expressed disbelief on the attack.

Governor Yakowa, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on  Media, Mr Reuben Buhari,  called on those planting bombs in the state to have a rethink and give peace a chance, saying no religion encouraged the spilling of innocent blood under whatever guise.

“I’m worried and saddened that media houses which are partners in progress in the development of any society have become targets of attack.

Globally, journalists have always been protected in times of war and conflict. But to become a target of attack now is uncalled for and against the spirit of our two major religions,” he said.

The governor also asked media practitioners in the state not to be deterred by this development in the discharge of their duties, but to see it as associated to challenges of nation-building.

The governor commended  the alertness of civilians in Kaduna which led to the arrest of the suspected bomber, saying; “Their exemplary courage and determination is commendable and has again proved that the business of security is the business of all.”

The governor also commended all security agencies for their efforts in curbing such incidents.

In a related development, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has said the media are being attacked because of the “crucial and significant’’ role they play in the quest to end acts of terrorism.

Maku made the remark last Friday when he visited the office of Thisday Newspapers to commiserate with the organisation over last Thursday’s bomb attack..

The minister said that the current spate of bombings was a passing phase in the history of the country.

“This (the attack) is a passing phase in the history of our nation. When a nation comes under attack, it calls for greater courage, commitment and vigilance by all of us.

“The media are very crucial and significant in the efforts to overcome terrorism. We will continue to work together to ensure the end of this phase.’’

Maku described the attack on the newspaper house, which killed two of its staff and the suicide bomber, as “unprovoked’’ and urged the media not to be deterred.

He said in spite of the attack, the media must develop an attitude against terror both in their editorial policy and the kind of prominence they gave evil men and their activities.

He called for collaboration between the media and security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property.

It will be recalled that a suicide car bomber forced himself into the premises of Thisday Newspapers office at Jabi District in Abuja on Thursday and rammed into the building, killing himself and two others.

An Amoured Personal Carrier and some men of the police anti-bomb, as well as the rescue team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and their ambulance were still positioned at the entrance of the office on Friday.

Security has been beefed up in and around major media organisations in Abuja, following the attack.

Also, last Thursday, a suspected suicide bomber, driving a car rammed into the building housing the offices of Thisday, The Sun and The Moment newspapers. The Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) failed to explode instantly.

The bomb exploded minutes after the suspected bomber jumped out of the bomb laden vehicle and was shouting ‘bomb! bomb!’ The suspected bomber was arrested by members of the public.

According to the Kaduna state police commissioner, Mohammed J. Abubakar, three persons died and 25 persons were injured as a result of the explosion.