By: Inuwa Bwala
Even with the ethical degeneration in journalism, a good journalist would seek to reflect the what, where, when, who and how, as the basic ingredients of a good story.
I also expect stories to be attributed to reliable and verifiable outlets, or risk credibility crisis.
I have read Sahara Reporters’ highly opiniated and faulty portrayals of situations in Borno and I have also read so many responses to the allusions made against the Government of Borno State, and by implications, the Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

It is not in my place to speak for the Government nor the Governor, but I find it necessary to scratch the surface of the ethical breaches in the said report, and perhaps caution on the need for professionalism by people who parade themselves as journalists.
Of course, Nigerians are not strangers to the place of Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters: which he publishes, in the annals of journalism, but to brazenly stand facts on the head, without subjecting same to test, may have crossed the ethical red line and there is the need for caution.
There would not have been the need for rebuttals, but as witnesses to the facts of the true situation of things, one can understand the general anger of citizens and the attendant responses.
The report in question, besides failing to satisfy the basic nuances of journalism, smacks of prejudice against the Government under the leadership of Proffessor Babagana Umara Zulum.
I have not read in it, a statement from security agencies or the government reflecting the other side.
It is needless to state that, given the volatile security situation in Borno and the noticeable innitiatives of the Government to end the menace, the report is not only misleading but entirely negate the facts on ground, nay the spirit of citizens.
Journalism goes beyond sitting down somewhere, and relying on assumptions ostenssibly from pure political mischief makers, in the name of exclusives.
It us doing journalism more harm, to rely on assumptions rather than facts, in reporting a volatile area like Borno.
Quite contrary to the assertions contained in the report, one can confidently say that the said order from Governor Zulum for the arrest of minors protesting under the guise of #EndBadGovernance, were never given, rather, it was a spontaneous response by security agencies, to the apparent hijack of the protest for mischief.
It is a known fact that, those arrested in recent times, were youths, who have self styled themselves as Malians: copying terrorists styles, akin to the situation in Mali.
They were deeply involved in various social vices, including drugs, robbery, rape, abductions and even killings.
The group was an emergent gang that had been causing mischief in Maiduguri by harassing innocent residents.
The chlampdown on them was a big relief to residents of Maiduguri generally. Infact the media had been awash with reports of the atrocities of the group, and I am aware of several appeals made to the Governor, to take decisive steps to put an end to their activities.

On the issu of heavy spending on counter insurgency efforts, it does not seem the report derive facts from records.
I had expected the report to capture figures of the expenditure by the state, on the dis-armament, dis-orientation and re-intergration of repentant Boko Haram members.
But even without that, one may be tempted to ask, which option is more important? Using the Borno model of DDR, which has been acknowledged internationally, as one of the most effective approaches to ending the insurgency, or allowing the insurgents to continue their atrocities?
Having been in Borno since the start of the ibsurgency places people like me in a better position to admit that, with the pragmatic approach of the Borno state Government, in recent times, there is relative peace and stability.
Any journalist in Maiduguri, who have seen all the sides to the conflict, should be responsible enough to say, that, it is not an anathema if the state government spends fortunes to achieve peace.
I am aware of a law banning vandalism and political thuggery in Borno. Complaining about those caught vandalising Government property, amounts to supporting the action. Except if otherwise, Sower has a stake in the trade, I do not see anything wrong in sanctioning those who engage in the act.
I do not want to suspect that, Sowore and Sahara Reporters have an axe to grind with the Government or the Governor. It presupppses therefore, that development journalism should define the approach and not lend our pages to mischief.