by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Journalists in Plateau State have been charged to always investigate issues any time an incident occurs and rephrase their module of reportage.
The Special Adviser on Security to the Plateau Governor, Brig-Gen Gakji Shipi (rtd), was reacting on the recent attack in Wase local government areas of Plateau State to newsmen in his office in Jos on Friday.
He noted thus: “Right now, there is a lot of challenges before the state and it is in a critical juncture, because whatever comes from the media is being taken with all seriousness.
According to him, “A lot of challenges are facing us and we are trying our very best to overcome them and make lives more meaningful to all the citizens, because that is the only way we can get that happen and when the state is peaceful enough.
The Adviser further stated that, “It is when the state is peaceful enough, investors and development can happen. Governor Mutfwang is struggling hard to woo investors and bring development partners, to bring in all sorts of dividends of democracy that will make lives of our citizens better.
He added that, they get a little bit worried when they find themselves always in the social media for the wrong reason – which is very dangerous environment and unsafe, and those attempts at times are difficult to attend to.
He urged the media to always try as much as possible to put Plateau in the news for the right reason, saying, “Let us try as much as possible to report those positive things more than the negative ones; that is the only way we can get progress in the state.
“I am not saying you should not report the thing that happened, but try and help us get the hold of the security situation. Let us try to exit all possible avenues to get the actual facts, if we must report it,” he stressed.
Brig-Gen Shipi recalled that, “The figures given by some media houses of the attack in Wase recently – some said 40, some said 50 people were killed. These will frigate the people.”
He explained that, “The official figures on ground by security agency is 10; the local government report 9, while the Emir 5 and the military official reports is 10 people killed. It was really, really frigating and concerned.”