The federal government has imposed a fine of ₦5 million on Trust Television Network (Trust TV) over the broadcast of a documentary on the killings, abduction, and displacement of citizens by terrorists.
The documentary titled “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story”, was aired by the station on 5 March 2022.
Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Balarabe Shehu Illela said the fine was imposed on Trust TV because its broadcast of the documentary contravened sections of the National Broadcasting Code.
The Easterner had reported how the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed last week said the government will sanction BBC, Africa Eye for ‘unprofessional documentary’ where it interviewed bandits.
Mohammed accused Trust Tv of using its platform to ‘promote the activities of terrorists’ by interviewing a bandit kingpin, Shehu Rekeb.
Media Trust Group in a statement said the documentary was done in “public interest”.
Daily Trust in a statement said the documentary sheds “light on the thorny issue of banditry and how it is affecting millions of citizens of our country.
“The documentary also brought to the fore the horrifying stories of victims of banditry.
“The documentary traces the root of the communal tensions and systemic inadequacies which led to the armed conflict that is setting the stage for another grand humanitarian crisis in Nigeria.
“It presents insights into the intersection of injustice, ethnicity and bad governance as drivers of the conflict.
“It also aggregates voices of experts and key actors towards finding solutions, including those of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Saidu Mohammed Dansadau, who hails from one the worst hit communities in Zamfara State.”
Media Trust said experts that featured in the documentary – Professor Abubakar Saddique of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Dr. Murtala Ahmed Rufai of the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto – are scholars of the subject of banditry for a long period.
Trust TV said it’s currently studying the sanction of the government agency and weighing its options.
