Al Jazeera journalists in trouble in Maiduguri for espionage ?

The Defence Headquarters has said that troops have restricted the movement of two journalists

working for Doha, Qatar-based television station, Al Jazeera, to their hotel in Maiduguri.

The military stated in a statement posted on the Defence Headquarters’ official website on Wednesday that the affected journalists, Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy, were noted by the military to have been moving around locations and restricted places in the operational areas of Borno and Yobe states.

It was stated that the two journalists were found to have been operating without clearance.

It was added that the two journalists were monitored by operatives of Military Intelligence who had to restrict their movement to their hotel accommodation in Maiduguri.

The statement added that Military Intelligence had commenced investigation into the activities of the journalists.

It was further stated that there had been suspicion in security circles that the journalists might have been interfering with the ongoing counter terrorism operation.

“Two journalists working for Aljazeera  Television  who were found to have been loitering around areas where military operations are onging  in the North East have been  restrained in Maiduguri.

“The journalists, Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy who were noted to have been moving around various locations including restricted areas in Yobe and Borno  State were also operating  without any protection , accreditation or due clearance.

“They were accordingly monitored by military  intelligence operatives until they eventually had to be restrained to their hotel in Maiduguri. This followed  the increasing suspicion that their activities were aimed at interfering with the  ongoing military operations in the area.

“The motive , activities and some material in possession  of these individuals are now being investigated.”

The statement said that the military had earlier warned foreign journalists against unauthorised movement in the mission area stressing that the warning was still in force.

The military authorities said that necessary arrangement would be made to assist accredited journalists to cover the operation in the North East.