The Kano State Government has denied reports of the shooting of a State House Correspondent at the Government House, Friday night.
Recall that the online media were awash with news of the shooting of a reporter at the Kano State Government House. The reporter, identified as Naziru Idris Ya’u, is a correspondent reporter with Abubakar Rimi Television Station (ARTV). But on Friday evening the news made the rounds that Ya’u was hit stray bullet at the Kano Government House.
The report stated that while the source of the bullet was yet unknown, the victim was was rushed to the Government House Clinic.
But a statement on Saturday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa denied the incident. He described the report as misinformation.
He stated, “The incident, which occurred amidst a flurry of misinformation, sparked widespread concern and speculation regarding the safety of journalists covering events at the Government House.
“For clarity purpose, Naziru Yau, the reporter of the State Television Station was not hit by any stray bullet. Instead, he sustained injuries from the metal debris emanating from an ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House. An area that has been barricaded for caution.’’
But reports by the Daily Trust on Sunday contradicted Tofa’s statement. Daily Trust had reported that the incident occurred at a mosque close to the entrance gate to the Government House. The report, according to Daily Trust was confirmed by the victim and others around him. It maintained that there is no ongoing construction around the vicinity of the incident as claimed by the Government’s spokesman.
According to Daily Trust, the ongoing construction is behind the Governor’s office. And close to the African House at the Government House, which is some distance away.
The DG, however, pledged Government’s commitment to review and enhance existing safety protocols at the Government House. This, he said is to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Tofa further stated that investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.