- – Many journalists may have been in ethical dilemma with the tsunami of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northern States. So far, two have lost their lives but the more tragic one is the death of Enenche Akogwu of Channels TV which occurred on January 20, bloody satanic black Friday of 2012 at the farm centre in Kano under a cross fire.
Drawing from his unique experience as one-time Nigeria civil war correspondent, Prince Ajayi Memaiyetan who had passed through the furnace of war and riots and came out a refined newsman said no news is worth the life of a reporter.
In a recent media chat on covering delicate beats, Prince Memaiyetan said even though journalism is not for chicken hearted, they must remember that they are among the most endangered professionals. They are expected to take common sensual precautions when on delicate assignments.
Prince Memaiyetan belongs to the breed of journalist with fettered marriage to his reportorial roots whatever position he finds himself.
In all his reportorial and irascible editorial, he demonstrates his showmanship and iconoclasm in a style that is adorned and aggressive. His political views are intense and unequivocal. A true believer in absolute varieties and press freedom, he sees himself as a sort of last bastion defender of nationalism and a bridge builder between the north and south having hailed from Okun Land in Kogi State but born and bred in the former western region. He hates religious bigotry having covered many sectarian and ethno-religious riots in Kano in the past forty years.
Prince Memaiyetan recalls his Nigeria Civil war experience when two reporters Kagu Daboa of the “Morning Past” Federal Government owned Newspaper and Ciroma of Federal Radio Kaduna died as war correspondents. They carried guns while we who can’t shot were given security covers by the Nigerian Army. And that’s how journalists on volatile beats should be covered by the security. Deaths on beats do occur no matter how careful but journalist must think safety first. I can still vividly recall like it happened yesterday when bullet missed me by the whiskers at Ore sector battle front while taking our meals at the make shift officers mess at Ore.
Late General Murtala Moh’d was the front commander while Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo then a Lt-Col was the rear commander. It was at Ore that “police action” turned to war when the Biafra rebels invaded the Mid-West and Lt Col Victor Banjo became Bight of Benin Administrator before he was withdrawn to Biafra to face firing squad of Odumegwu Ojukwu. Before then I was at Nsukka sector during police action where Chukwuma Nzeagwu Kaduna was killed and I followed his body to Kaduna for burial with full military honours. It’s good to keep a safe distance from crisis point. A reporter must avoid being caught in the middle even during riots. One must secure his life at all cost instead of being a dead hero. Akogwu was caught in the line of fire which would have been avoided. He had no background that the sect members of Boko Haram would not want their faces on the television while performing such dastardly acts of throwing bombs and shooting lawful enforcement agents.
Reporter Akogwu had just returned from his head office where he received laurels for covering Boko Haram operations in other parts of Northern Nigeria including Damaturu and Maiduguri. He wanted more laurels and he was properly kitted with the press badge. Akogwu failed to understand the terrain and did not keep a safe distance from crisis point. He did not know how to miligate possibility of dangers and he fell by the bullet of Boko Haram Islamic Extremists. It happened during Matasine riot in 1980 when Tunde Amao of the Daily Times was killed in Kano. I led the team that recovered his body from the “battle front” with a security cover at the point in time. Tunde was caught by the bullet during a cross fire between the police and the Matasine Islamic fanatics. Journalist should know how to take cover when caught in gun fire by laying on the chest. “Leave the area as quickly as possible and learn to run in irregular zig-zag to make it harder to be shot”, Prince Memaiyetan advised.
Even during peace talks after war, journalist must be weary of being kidnapped. I was with Banjo in Kampala during the Nigeria Civil War peace talks with Biafra when he was kidnapped. Banjo was the confidential secretary of Nigeria delegation to the talks in 1968 and I was resigned to cover the talks as a student of International Press Institute (IPI) in Nairobi, Kenya. The talks led by Chief Anthony Enahoro broke down after the mysterious disappearance of Banjo whose decomposed body was later found after many days of search in the muddy ghetto area of Kampala.
Conflicting positions whether to dialogue with the Boko Haram Sect have emerged. It is sure that there no end in sight to the war already declared by the sect already known for changing tactics. The situation where the sect operates is worse than the war zone because of the faceless nature of the battles. Journalist are therefore advised to chose their routes carefully, watch out for dark places, make the tours if necessary, stop often, look and listen because you’re now reporting from an environment worse than the normal war zone where forces attacking often change tactics.
Prince Ajayi Memaiyetan – A former Kano State Chairman of NUJ and NIPR was one time managing editor of government owned Triumph Publishing Company. Email: spinsociety@hotmail.com; adbizpresspr@yahoo.com
