Military defends action

Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade

The Defence Headquarters has defended its actions which disrupted the operations of some media houses across the country on Friday.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in an electronic mail told our correspondent that the military was merely conducting security searches.

He said troops embarked on a search of vehicles conveying newspapers and newsprint because of an intelligence report which indicated that dangerous materials were being moved through such vans.

He said, “Troops embarked on thorough search of vehicles conveying newspapers and newsprints across board.

“This followed intelligence report indicating movement of materials with grave security implications across the country using the channel of newsprint related consignments.

“The general public and the affected media organisations in particular are assured that the exercise was a routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive.”

Olukolade said the exercise had nothing to do with the content, operations and personnel of media organisations.

He also explained that newspaper parcels collected during the operations would be returned to the owners after a thorough search.