Troops ‘restrain’ Aljazeera journalists in Borno

Nigerian military authorities say they have “restrained” Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy, reporters for Aljazeera Television, for allegedly engaging in activities aimed at interfering with security operations in the northeast.

Warning journalists to avoid unauthorised and unprotected movements, the defence headquarters said appropriate arrangements would be made to assist journalists who are cleared to cover activities in the area. “Two journalists working for Aljazeera Television who were found to have been loitering around areas where military operations are onging in the North East have been restrained in Maiduguri,” the defence headquarters said in a statement.

“The journalists, Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy, who were noted to have been moving around various locations including restricted areas in Yobe and Borno State were also operating without any protection , accreditation or due clearance. “They were accordingly monitored by military intelligence operatives until they eventually had to be restrained to their hotel in Maiduguri. This followed the increasing suspicion that their activities were aimed at interfering with the ongoing military operations in the area. The motive , activities and some material in possession of these individuals are now being investigated.” The statement reiterated the military’s earlier warning to foreign journalists against unauthorised and unprotected movements around the military operations area. “This warning is hereby reiterated until formally reversed or lifted,” it said. “Appropriate arrangements will however continue to be made to assist duly cleared journalists to cover activities in the mission area within the limits of adequate safety, security & necessary procedures.”