CLAMPDOWN ON MEDIA: EXHIBITING MILITARY MENTALITY IN A DEMOCRATIC SETTING

The ongoing military clampdown on media houses especially the print media is nothing but a very good way to kill the media and hence silence the people's voice. The military force in the live of any nation cannot be taken for a ride because they help protect the territorial integrity of the nation. They help in preventing external forces which may tend to wage war against the nation. The military are usually for external defence constitutionally. In maintaining internal security and order, the police has this mandate and are the chief internal security operator constitutionally.

Military Siege On The Media: Statement By The Newpaper Proprietors Association Of Nigeria

Following the harassment of newspaper vendors/distributors and the seizure of large volumes of newspapers by soldiers who initially targeted the following newspapers: LEADERSHIP, DAILY TRUST, The NATION and PUNCH, but later extended the siege to all major newspapers in the country for the second day today, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) held an emergency meeting in Abuja on June 7, 2014 with representatives of vendors and distributors and resolved as follows:
1. The NPAN unequivocally condemns this attack of FREE SPEECH by soldiers, in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Maiduguri, Ibadan amongst other cities, claiming to be acting on "orders". This assault on FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION through the stoppage of distribution of newspapers is inconsistent with the values of any democratic society and the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. We therefore call upon the military authorities to lift the siege immediately and call the soldiers to order.