Minna vendors in fear as army continues newspaper ban

For four days running armed military men have continued to lay siege, impound copies of some newspapers and refused the sales of The Nation, Daily Trust and Leadership in Niger state.
Despite denial by the defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, that the military had found nothing wrong with the editorial content of the affected papers officers and men of 31 Field Artillery Brigade were yet to allow the three titles on the newsstand.
Blueprint learnt that the a unit of armed soldiers had been positioned at the popular Fleet Street, Minna, where papers are distributed to vendors impounding copies of papers from circulation officers as they arrived from Abuja
It was also leant that the sentinels posted at the place had warned all the newspaper distributors and vendors in the city not to sell any of the three newspapers and that anybody caught selling them would be dealt with.
As early as 6:00 am yesterday parcels of Leadership newspapers were impounded at Kilometre 10 military check point in Minna, while another set of armed soldiers stormed the distribution centre at Fleet Street in town searching for any of the three titles being sought for by the military command.
The armed men stationed at the distribution centre later left for their barracks at about 11:42 am when they were satisfied that no paper was coming for the day again.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Salisu Mustapha, of the 31 Artillery Brigade Minna, told Journalists yesterday that he would look into the matter, saying that “you may have to call back in an hour’s time. I will meet my superior. I know something is been done to normalise the situation.”
Chairman, Niger state Newspaper Vendors and Distributors Association, Mr. Festus Elijah, told journalists that the lives of his members have been endangered by the situation.