The government of Zamfara state has pleaded with the media organisations against spreading unsubstantiated news about the state.
Dr Bashir Maru, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Bello Matawalle, made this known on Friday in Gusau in a chat with newsmen.
“We are particularly disturbed by the way some media organisations, including online, electronic and print outfits rush to the press with stories that are largely baseless, unsubstantiated or spurious.
“While the government of Gov. Bello Matawalle is doing all it can to ensure the return of peace in the state amidst serious security challenges fueled by selfish politicians and mischief makers, such media organisations and their representatives have chosen to join trouble makers by trying to cause disharmony.
“It is worrisome to see the media organisations throwing ethics, decorum, professionalism and social responsibility to the woods and report with bias and enmity against the government for no reason.
“Most recent was the report that bandits had abducted 60 persons in Ruwan Tofa village and burnt half of the village when the actual story was that the bandits who invaded a nearby village were ambushed by the people who killed many of the attackers.
“The whole interview was said to have been conducted with a resident when there is no GSM network at all in the entire area and there was not a single picture to prove the claim.
“We are now working with security agencies to track the communication lines of such organisations so that we can take appropriate action against them,” he said.
He assured of the readiness of the government to divulge regular information to the media especially on sensitive issues like security.
