FG To Penalize BBC And Trust TV Over Documentaries On Bandits

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that it will penalize The BBC and Trust TV, a television station owned by Media Trust Group, for their coverage of bandits in the country’s northern region.

Separate documentaries produced by BBC Africa Eye and Trust TV recently revealed terrorists’ operations which have made life difficult for Nigerians.

However, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, told the media in Abuja on Thursday that the videos promoted terrorism in Nigeria.

According to Mohammed, the proper regulatory agency was already investigating the documentaries, and suitable penalties are being considered to be imposed on both platforms.

He said, “There is a regulatory body regulating broadcasting which is the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and they are also aware of these two incidents.

“They are looking at which part of the Broadcasting Code that has been violated by the BBC and Trust TV. Media is the oxygen that terrorists and bandits use to breathe.

“When otherwise reputable platforms like BBC can give their platform to terrorists showing their faces as if they are Nollywood stars, it is unfortunate.

“I want to assure them that they will not get away with it, appropriate sanctions will be meted to both the BBC and the Trust Tv.”