Why we attacked ThisDay – Boko Haram
Boko Haram on Thursday said that it attacked ThisDay Newspaper offices in Abuja and Kaduna over alleged misrepresentation of its position and perceived bias reporting of the feud between the sect and the government of Nigeria.
Suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers had attacked ThisDay’s Abuja office as well as a complex housing ThisDay, Sun and Moment newspapers in Kaduna, leaving at least five people dead and many more injured.
The sect also known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad said in an interview with Premium Times, an online news blog, that it was targeting local and foreign journalists.
In the interview by a member who claimed to be Abul Qaqa, Boko Haram said the attacks were meant to send a message to the media that it was fed up with alleged misrepresentations of its position by journalists.
“We have repeatedly cautioned reporters and media houses to be professional and objective in their reports. This is a war between us and the government of Nigeria; unfortunately the media have not been objective and fair in their reports of the ongoing war; they chose to take side,” Mr Qaqa said.
He identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the |State Security Service (SSS).
“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa. They know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two.
“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the North; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which I never said during that interview.”
“Another example is the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam. I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again. There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why ThisDay appeared specifically chosen for the attack, Qaqa replied, “It is not only ThisDay that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us; yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war. But the sins of ThisDay are more.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001 and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
According to the blog, the purported Boko Haram spokesman threatened that the group would launch more attacks against the media.
Suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers had attacked ThisDay’s Abuja office as well as a complex housing ThisDay, Sun and Moment newspapers in Kaduna, leaving at least five people dead and many more injured.
The sect also known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad said in an interview with Premium Times, an online news blog, that it was targeting local and foreign journalists.
In the interview by a member who claimed to be Abul Qaqa, Boko Haram said the attacks were meant to send a message to the media that it was fed up with alleged misrepresentations of its position by journalists.
He identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the |State Security Service (SSS).
“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa. They know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two.
“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the North; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which I never said during that interview.”
“Another example is the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam. I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again. There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why ThisDay appeared specifically chosen for the attack, Qaqa replied, “It is not only ThisDay that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us; yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war. But the sins of ThisDay are more.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001 and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
According to the blog, the purported Boko Haram spokesman threatened that the group would launch more attacks against the media.
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