Presidency reportedly bars Journalists from covering Buhari’s Benue Visit

The Presidency on Monday obstructed journalists from covering the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Benue State, Punch reports.

In what is an obstruction to the freedom of the press, only 7 media organisations were handpicked to cover the president’s visit to the state.

Other media houses, including Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Tribune, New Telegraph, and The Nation were barred.

The News Agency of Nigeria, Daily Sun, Voice of Nigeria, Daily Trust, Leadership, The Guardian, and The Daily Independent were the media houses selected.

Youths who were protesting the killings were also sent away, operatives seizing their placards, thwarting their right to peaceful assembly.

One of the protesters who spoke to Punch said:

We wanted the President to know the magnitude of the senseless killings in our communities, but security men, including the police, drove us away and seized some of our placards.