President Muhammadu Buhari has again lashed out at foreign press over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests in October.
Recall the Nigerian government had on several occasions in the past faulted the reports by some foreign media. In late November, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed wrote the America’s Cable News Network (CNN), picking holes in its coverage of the protest.
Mohammed in the letter described CNN’s reports as “blatantly irresponsible.”
On Wednesday, Buhari specifically said the accounts given by CNN and BBC in their reports on the #EndSARS protest were not balanced, as they failed to give attention to the Policemen that were killed.
Buhari tweeted: “It must be said that foreign press coverage of the ENDSARS violence was not balanced, especially from CNN and BBC.
“I was disgusted by the coverage, which did not give attention to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt, and prisons that were opened.”
It must be said that foreign press coverage of the ENDSARS violence was not balanced, especially from CNN and BBC. I was disgusted by the coverage, which did not give attention to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt, and prisons that were opened.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 9, 2020
The tweet has elicited deluge of reactions from Nigerians.
Was not balanced?? So u admitted that the soldiers shot unarmed civilians but ur concern is they didn’t report opening of prisons. Who did we offend to deserve this man?
— Al'ameen✨ (@Al_ameen_Yabo) December 9, 2020
I'm also disgusted that the coverage of CNN and BBC did not give attention to those who imported the thugs that infiltrated the protesters, the SARS officials who killed/fleeced innocent civilians in the past, the identities of the soldiers who shot Lekki protesters.
I really am
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) December 9, 2020
Buhari said CNN and BBC press coverage was not balanced, so na NTA press coverage balance abi?🤡 pic.twitter.com/lN6Hbe5wd7
— John Jennifer (@JohnJennifer26) December 9, 2020