The Nigerian Defence Headqaurters on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 announced that two journalists attached to Al-Jazeera Television have been restrained after they were found loitering close to areas were military operations against insurgents are ongoing in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The journalists, identified as Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy, were said to have been found moving around several locations, including restricted areas in Yobe and Borno States.
Making the development known via a statement posted on its official website, the Defence Headquarters used the opportunity to reiterate an earlier warning to foreign journalists from unauthorised and unprotected movements around areas where military operations were ongoing.
The statement read:
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 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.
It will be recalled that Foreign journalists have earlier been cautioned against unauthorised and unprotected movements around the military operations area. This warning is hereby reiterated until formally reversed or lifted. 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.
