Military and SSS seize major Nigerian newspapers acting on “orders from above”

On Friday morning, the Defense Headquarter and the State Security Service seized and destroyed major Nigerian Newspaper in an action reminiscent of military rule.

There were indications of random forceful seizures of newspaper including The Punch, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. There were also indications that newspaper distribution vans were stopped and searched in different parts of the country.

Other Newspaper that were confiscated included The Nation, Leadership and Daily Trust.

Leadership wrote on their website “Solders on Friday intercepted and destroyed newspaper copies meant for the North-West region at the Kaduna tollgate. Copies to several other regions were also seized by soldiers and SSS operatives who were said to be acting on ‘orders from above.’

The same scenario was said to have occurred in other states in the Federation. When contacted, the Director of Defense information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail that troops embarked on a search of vehicles conveying newspapers and newsprint because of an intelligence report which indicated that dangerous materials were being moved through such vans.

What I don't understand is, isn't there another way to go about this, why try to give a good thing a bad name? This isn't right no matter how you look at it and it would only end up causing distrust between the government and media houses. There has to be another way, a better way unless there is something they are not telling us.