The director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, has said that emir of Gwoza, Gombe state, Alhaji Mohammed Idrissa Timta, is alive and not missing, contrary to media reports that the emir was abducted after members of Boko Haram invaded his domain last week.
At a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Omeri urged Nigerian journalists to be factual in their reports and shun sensational stories.
“In line with our commitment to always brief you based on authenticated and verifiable information, we wish to inform you that the emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Timta, who was reported to have been declared missing last weekend when members of Boko Haram invaded his domain, is alive and not missing as erroneously reported by a section of the media,” he said.
“In this wise, we wish to appeal to the media to practise within the confines of acceptable norms and ethics of the journalism profession, as well as lay emphasis and adhere to social responsibility to the larger public, which we all serve.
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“A situation whereby some journalists sit in Maiduguri and other parts of the country and report on fighting taking place in Gwoza, Damboa and other places of high risks in such sensational way without being in the battle field leaves much to be desired. We owe this country our allegiance and loyalty than other interest. It is only when Nigeria is peaceful that we can effectively carry out our various duties and responsibilities.”
Omeri also warned Nigerians against running errands for Boko Haram,saying terror against one person or country is terror against all.
“Thus, any individual that runs an errand for an insurgent is and must be considered an enemy of the people,” he said, before appealing to commercial drivers and other transporters not to accept unverified parcels from unknown persons for onward delivery to other locations.
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