The Federal Government of Nigeria's apparent attempt to stifle the media has not perturbed the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Insiders responded to the fine levied against Trust Television Network (Trust TV) and others by speaking with bendelnews
Nigeria's Banditry: The Inside Story received a N5 million fine from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for the programme.
The remaining three are Telcom Satellite Limited (TSTV), NTA-Startimes Limited, and Multichoice Nigeria Limited (owners of DSTV), each receiving N5 million.
The NBC notified the public that by screening films on terrorism and banditry, they had all broken the broadcasting code.
The authorities saw the images as detrimental, further infuriating a populace already incensed by the country's escalating insecurity.
BBC sources, however, claimed that the Nigerian government was attempting to persuade the media to downplay the severity of the harm caused by non-state actors (NSAs).
One said, "We released another (documentary), and we'll make more since it's about the people who are suffering."
"They (the authorities) knew they couldn't fine us, so they didn't try.
What they can do is send a letter to the Office of Communications, the organisation that oversees us (Ofcom).
They have no other option, so they would undoubtedly ask Ofcom to take disciplinary action.
The source stated, "After Trust TV met with the victims, we interrogated the NSAs—Ado Aleru, the man in the turban, and Abu Sanni, who was in charge of the Jangebe school attack.
Zamfara has been terrorised by the pair. Aleru (Alieru) was crowned Sarkin Fulani (King of Fulanis) of Yandoton Daji Emirate in the middle of July.
Aliyu Garba Marafa, the Emir of Yandoto, appointed him despite the fact that he was wanted by the authorities for kidnapping and murder.
Nearly 300 pupils from Jangebe's Government Girls Secondary School were kidnapped by Sanni's gang in February 2021.
He described how the Nigerian government paid millions for the girls' release in BBC's "The Bandit Warlords of Zamfara."
Sanni revealed that they launched an attack in retaliation for military operations in 2020 after the wet season.
"They sent the military once the rainy season finished. We made the decision to show the government that they shouldn't get involved in our issues. We drove the students to Jangebe.
"We aimed to enrage the administration. After talks, N60 million was given in exchange for their release, contrary to our initial demand of N300 million.
A journalist from the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom named Yusuf Anka visited the bandit commanders in their strongholds.
Following Lai Mohammed, the information minister, last week's remarks, NBC took the action that was announced on Wednesday.
The BBC and Trust TV will both receive the proper punishment. The outright celebration of terrorism and banditry will not be tolerated.
It is regrettable that normally trustworthy outlets like the BBC might allow terrorists to use their images to pose as Nollywood stars.
We will ask them to stop sending signals if they are not registered in Nigeria and are simply doing so, the official added.
When the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was active, Mohammed said, "the BBC would not dare conduct what they are doing now in Nigeria."
Source: Dailypost