The Kano State Government denied that a journalist, Naziru Idris Ya’u, was injured by a stray bullet in the State House on Friday.
This was from a statement on Saturday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa.
PUNCH Online previously said that Naziru Idris Ya’u, a correspondent of Abubakar Rimi Television at the Kano State Government House, narrowly escaped death on Friday evening after being hit by a stray bullet at the Government House.
At the time of reporting, there was no official statement from the Kano Government House or the State Police Command about the shooting.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Police Command, SP Haruna Abdullahi, said the incident had not been reported to the command.
“I will investigate because it has not been reported to the command,” he said.
However, Tofa clarified that despite reports, the journalist was injured by metal debris from ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House.
The statement said, “Kano State Government has noticed a one-sided media report on social media revealing that a journalist, with the state Television station, attached to the Government house was hit by a stray bullet.
“The incident was amidst a lot of misinformation, sparking widespread concern and speculation about the safety of journalists covering events at the government house.
“To be clear, Naziru Yau, the reporter of the state television station, was not hit by any stray bullet. Instead, he sustained injuries from the metal debris from ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House, an area that has been blocked off for caution.”
He said medical personnel at the government house revealed the true nature of the incident after investigating.
“The truth of the incident emerged when medical professionals at the government house clinic disclosed the true nature of Mr Naziru’s injuries.
Tofa assured that journalists at the government house were safe.
However, he advised journalists to make sure their sources are credible.
He added, “The government would like to say that journalists are not at risk in Kano government house. It is important to caution journalists to ensure credible sources and avoid sensational angles that can mislead the public.
“We reject any rumor that has sparked outrage and call for increased safety measures for journalists covering sensitive events.
“We also need to stress the importance of accurate reporting and thorough investigation to prevent misinformation and maintain public trust.
He urged journalists to be cautious and observant in their work.
“Let me emphasize the need for journalists to remain alert while doing their duties, especially where construction activities pose potential dangers.
He promised that the government is committed to regularly reviewing and improving current safety procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The statement ended by advising the public to avoid spreading unverified claims and to depend on confirmed information from trustworthy sources as the investigations into the incident continue.
