Seriously I do not understand the kind of journalism being practiced in Nigeria. Channels TV aired a report on Wednesday night where their correspondent interviewed Ibrahim Musa the spokesman of the Islamic movement of Nigeria.
Mr Musa used his platform to counter claims by the Army that only 7 people were killed on December 12 2015. He re-emphasized that the list of 705 deceased men, women and children released by the IMN was authentic.
What I really found difficult to chew was his comment that the Army upon routing his members carted away the bodies of the deceased and deposited over 300 bodies at the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital Mortuary. He claimed hospital records are there to support him; he also said that the Soldiers returned to the hospital two days later to retrieve the bodies.
I expected the news report to proceed to showcase another perspective like a trip by the correspondent to the not too obscure hospital or at least an attempt by the reporter to test the credibility of Musa's words (who I think is not in any way sincere). Neither happened.
300 unidentified bodies were deposited at ABUTH? How? Is ABUTH a graveyard? I have had the privilege to work at a few hospitals in Nigeria and worked very closely with anatomic pathologists in 2014 for 3 months. It is not divine inspiration that informs us that ABUTH like LUTH and UCH are Federal Government owned and funded "mega" hospitals all of which have been very poorly run for decades now. There may have been upgrades on the morgue facilities at these hospitals in recent years but just as it was characteristic of any facility that is government owned (eg National Stadium Surulere and refineries); one component breaks down after another while until irreversible rot sets in.
I do not think anyone or group can simply waltz into one mortuary facility and dump over 300 bodies from an unexplained mass conflict without necks turning and ofofo in overdrive. Were the bodies brought during the day or when men slept deeply? Were there brought piled up in M939 5-ton military trucks or properly wrapped in linen garments? Did they die of smoke inhalation or were the bodies riddled with bullets and dismembered?
Who approved the collection of the corpses and how where they deposited within the premises of the Mortuary? 3 bodies per freezer or simple sandwitched in any available space? Did the soldiers come during the day or at night when they retrieved the bodies? Are there any eyewitness reports on soldiers moving bodies like undertakers?
I still wonder why the Channels crew did not seek for anyone working at ABUTH to corroborate the claims of Mr Musa that 300 bodies fit in perfectly into the hospital's mortuary without any trouble and stench. Did the soldiers bury 705 human beings? Did they dig the graves themselves or employed the services of professional grave diggers or heavy duty excavating equipment?
Someone must have seen bodies being buried or a mound of earth at least. It should not cost anything to re-excavate any suspected mass grave to prove the Army wrong, should it? Were the bodies treated like deceased Jews during the holocaust or were they dumped into a large body of water? 705 human bodies does not sound to me like what could just simply vapourize because soldiers want it so and are untouchable.
The president advised journalists to practice investigative journalism; the producers and directors of on-field correspondents can help themselves by ensuring balanced reportage of news at all times. There must be evidence that the opinions of opposing parties are sought especially when one or more sides refuse to make comments or grant interviews.
I do not believe Ibrahim Musa; he does not sound honest to me but I may just be wrong. Zaria is definitely very massive territory; vast enough to conceal 705 corpses.
No comments:
Post a Comment