Nigerian Soldiers Early This Morning Seized Paper Editions Of Major Newspapers.

Soldiers claiming to be acting on “orders from above”  today confisticated print editions of Leadership Newspaper heading to the Northwest, Southeast and South south regions of the country.

Azubike Ishiekwene, Managing Director of the Leadership Group, told Premium Times Friday morning, that soldiers mounting a roadblock close to the tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway blocked the newspaper’s van heading to Kaduna and confiscated the entire consignment of the paper.

“The driver of the vehicle as well as another staff was also detained, with their telephones seized. Nobody has told us why our paper was seized and we are seriously concerned by this development,” he said.

It was reported that, another consignment of the paper being flown to states in the Southeast were also confiscated at the Abuja airport.

 It was said that another detachment of soldiers  condoned off the Edo State office of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Benin, demanding all copies of Leadership and Nation Newspapers from vendors.

 Edo state correspondent of the paper in Benin, confirmed that the consignment of the paper heading to Kogi and Edo states was also intercepted and seized by soldiers in Kontagora.

“They are trying to ensure that the papers do not circulate at all in Benin,” Mr. Ochoga said.

The Leadership Newspaper had reported on Tuesday that at least 10 army Generals and soldiers on lower ranks had been brought to trial for sabotaging the Nigerian government’s onslaught against Boko Haram.

Vanguard was also affected as soldiers  at about 11am ,  prevented the distribution of today’s edition in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, just as the circulation vehicles going to the South South and South East with the papers were stopped at Ore and Warri in Ondo and Delta states respectively.

The soldiers also cordoned off all roads leading to Oke Padre, a major distribution point for newspapers and magazines in the South West.

Chairman, Newspaper Distribution Agents of Nigeria, NDAN Oyo State, Mr. Abimbola Tunde, said more than 100 soldiers stormed the distribution point and seized all the papers. “We don’t know any reason for this”, he said. Its major headline today read: ’100 massacred in fresh Borno attacks’

The Nation too was not left out as their editions were seized. Their  major headline read: ‘Chibok girls: Government to adopt US-Taliban swap model’.

It also carried news that scores of villagers were Thursday murdered by the Boko Haram sect.

The  Nigeria military through the spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, has refuted the reports.

According to the him,” Troops this morning embarked on thorough search of vehicles conveying newspapers and newsprints across board. This followed intelligence report indicating movement of materials with grave security implications across the country using the channel of newsprint related consignments.

“The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organizations or their personnel as is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press. The military appreciates and indeed respects the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and the overall advancement of our country’s democratic credentials. As such, the military will not deliberately and without cause, infringe on the freedom of the press.

“The general public and the affected media organizations in particular are assured that the exercise was a routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive.

The question is can we even form opinions?