Three journalists from Wazobia FM, Kano, northern Nigeria are being questioned by detectives at the Bompai Police Headquarters over a programme believed to have portrayed polio immunization as anti-Islam, and allegedly resulting to the attack on health centres last Friday which caused the death of about nine ladies administering polio vaccines to children.
Police authorities are working on the theory that the Hausa Programme Sandar Girma had incited Islamic extremists who launched vicious attack on the hapless women, killing nine and wounding many.
The journalists being held by the police are Suleiman Gama, producer of the Hausa programme, Yakubu Musa, presenter of the programme and Mubarak Malam, reporter.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, Kano state Commissioner of Police confirmed the arrest of the radio journalist, and described their action as, “irresponsible journalism,” pointing out that thorough investigation are being carried out by his men.
According to him, the programme which was aired few days before the attack was grossly inciting, noting that it influenced the behavior of the attackers.
It will be recalled that female health workers were killed last Friday when gun men opened fire on two health centres in the city. The nine victims of that attack on Angwar Uku and Hotoro areas were all female health workers involved in the polio immunization exercise.
The incident occurred at Shargawlle Comprehensive Health centre in Angwar Uku quarters when gunmen stormed the health centre on a motorbike and tricycle and hit at the centre, killing the victims, while setting part of the building ablaze.
In another separate attack in Haye, Hotoro quarters, the gun men were said to have opened fire on the health workers who were on immunization exercise in the area.