End SARS: Arise, AIT, Channels escalated violence – Buhari group claims

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has lauded the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for sanctioning three broadcast media stations  for their coverage of End SARS protests.

A statement on Friday by the Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and the Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, claimed the organisations breached extant regulatory guidelines.

BMO aligned with NBC’s position that Arise TV, AIT and Channels TV contributed to the escalation of the crisis.

The body noted that the sanction sends a strong and unambiguous message to the broadcast industry in Nigeria.

“There can be no justification for Channels Television, Arise TV, and AIT to transmit footage obtained from unverified and unauthenticated social media sources,” it said.

BMO said the “amateurish conduct” only fell short of professional expectations.

It said their conduct “incited the youth to more violent behaviour”.

“They helped create a self-serving justification for the humungous looting spree that gripped many parts of the country. We commend the NBC for exercising obvious and strong regulatory surveillance over the broadcast industry and encourage the Commission to continue in this line”, the statement read.

The BMO noted that holding the broadcast stations liable for their breach of the code emanating from the use of material from User Generated Sources was not good enough.

Nigerians and groups have condemned the fine slammed on the stations.