End SARS: Arise, AIT, Channels escalated violence - BMO supports NMC sanctions

While many civil society groups have criticized the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for sanctioning some selected media outfits in the country for its reportage on the End SARS protest, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has lauded it for the move.

In a statement released on Friday by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and the Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, the organizations claimed the media houses breached extant regulatory guidelines.

BMO aligned with NBC’s position that Arise TV, AIT, and Channels TV contributed to the escalation of the crisis, Daily Pots said.

The body noted that the sanction sends a strong and unambiguous message to the broadcast industry in Nigeria.

“There can be no justification for Channels Television, Arise TV, and AIT to transmit footage obtained from unverified and unauthenticated social media sources,” it said.

BMO said the “amateurish conduct” only fell short of professional expectations.

It said their conduct “incited the youth to more violent behaviour”.

“They helped create a self-serving justification for the humungous looting spree that gripped many parts of the country. We commend the NBC for exercising obvious and strong regulatory surveillance over the broadcast industry and encourage the Commission to continue in this line”, the statement read.

The BMO noted that holding the broadcast stations liable for their breach of the code emanating from the use of material from User Generated Sources was not good enough.

Nigerians and groups have condemned the fine slammed on the stations.