The editor of a newspaper, Taraba Fact and Truth NewspaperOloye Samuel, on Sunday, alleged that his life is being threatened by his critical reporting of politicians in the state.
The paper’s management in a statement on Sunday said Samuel had learned of a plan to kidnap and kill him.
He said the plan was hatched during a meeting in Abuja.
“Some desperate politicians in Taraba state have finalized plans to kidnap and assassinate Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper editor Oloye Ayodele Samuel.”
“This plot is coordinated by a serving federal legislator and some of his minions who have been disturbed by the newspaper’s reporting of late.
“These politicians, through their agent, had made contact with a criminal gang operating within the Taraba/Benue border for illegal work,” the paper’s management said.
The statement claimed that a credible source told the newspaper that the plan was to kidnap the publisher for ransom, but to ensure that he was not released alive.
“The discussion began at the federal legislator’s residence in an intellectual area of Abuja before moving to the Sunnyvale Estate, where a meeting with some people contacted for the deadly job was reported.
“The job has been handed over to some guys from the late Gana. They were also informed of your movements within Jalingo and Abuja, please be very careful. They promised to get you out of the picture before the next election.
“It’s going to be like a kidnap-for-ransom case, but the ultimate goal is to get rid of you, they said you’re working against their political interests,” the newspaper quoted its source in the statement.
“One of these desperate politicians with ambitions to be governor had seriously threatened in the past to deal with the publisher of the Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper over reports he found offensive.
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“We call on the security agencies to investigate this plot as we are ready to provide them with all the details at our disposal, a formal complaint will also be made available to the relevant agencies for them to take appropriate action.
“We also call on the general public to take note of this threat from those who fear being held accountable by the public through the media.
“At this point, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of the journalistic profession and our core focus of informing the people and holding public officials accountable to the public. We will never be intimidated by threats and intimidation,” the statement concluded.
The newspaper’s publisher told PREMIUM TIMES that he submitted his request in writing to the police.
“I’m happy to tell you that security officials are cooperating on the matter,” he said.