The Kano State government in Northwest Nigeria has issued a clarification regarding an incident at the Government House on Friday, refuting claims of a journalist being hit by a stray bullet.
In a statement released by the Director General of Media for Governor Abba Kabir, Mallam Sunusi Bature, on Saturday, the government dismissed reports from certain sections of the media, describing them as unbalanced.
“The attention of Kano state government has been drawn to a one sided media report on social media revealing that a journalist, with the state own Television station, attached to Government house was hit by a stray bullet.
“The incident, which occurred amidst a flurry of misinformation, sparked widespread concern and speculation regarding the safety of journalists covering events at the government house.
“However, the government will like to emphatically say that journalists are not under threat in Kano government house. It is however worthy of note to caution journalists to ensure credible source while reporting any development and avoid unnecessary sensational angle that can mislead the public,” the statement read.
Also Read: Police Launches School Protection Squad In Kano State
The statement clarified further that Naziru Yau, the reporter from the state television station, was not hit by any stray bullet but that he sustained injuries from metal debris resulting from an ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House, an area that authorities had barricaded for safety reasons.
It emphasised that the details of the incident were revealed by medical staff at the government house clinic, adding that the journalist, Mr. Naziru, expressed his gratitude for the swift medical assistance he received and thanked those who expressed concern for his recovery.
However, the victim had spoken to newsmen earlier, revealing that he was hit by a spray bullet and that the security who confirmed the incident have since moved into investigation.
In his reaction to the incident, Bature assured the public of government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all individuals within the premises and the state in general, while pledging to review and enhance existing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He noted that, “as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident, we urge the public to refrain from spreading unsubstantiated claims and to rely on verified information from credible sources.”
