Spokesman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, Mr. Luka Binniyat has been arrested for alleged “defamation of character, injurious falsehood and incitement of public disturbance.”
The Kaduna state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs disclosed at a press conference on Sunday in Kaduna.
Aruwan said Binniyat in a report published online, Binniyat allegedly quoted Senator Danjuma Laah representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, as stating that he (Aruwan) was being used to cover up a genocide against Christians in Southern Kaduna.
This is the second time Binniyat, a former Correspondent of Vanguard newspapers was being arrested by the state government over allegations bothering on “false information.”
In 2017, he was charged by the Kaduna state government “for falsely”, publishing in Vanguard newspapers “that five students of the College of Education, Gidan Waya were killed by Fulani herdsmen”.
After spending 93 days in detention, his bail condition were reviewed by the State High Court, presided by the late Justice Bashir Sukola and he was released.
“I wish to address you this afternoon on recent disturbing allegations leveled against me, amounting to defamation of character, injurious falsehood and incitement of public disturbance”, Aruwan said at the press conference.
According to him, “On 29th October 2021, my attention was drawn to an online publication authored by one Luka Binniyat. “In this publication, Mr Binniyat quoted Senator Danjuma Laah of the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, as stating that I am being used to cover up a genocide against Christians in Southern Kaduna.
“Before questioning the veracity of the purported statement, I am supremely concerned first, for the implications of such a statement on the peace and security of our state, because of the religious and ethnic sentiments it has conveyed.”
The commissioner said the publication “has exposed my life and the lives of my family to grave and immediate danger.”
The commissioner said
“happenings in Kaduna State within the last forty years; thousands of lives and properties have been lost, and lingering bitter sentiments are still being managed, for reasons related to the allegations now leveled against my person. “
He noted that recently an entire family was killed by a mob in Zangon Aya, Igabi local government area after being stereotyped.
Aruwan said: “As such, I have been compelled to take the following necessary steps:
“I have reported the matter to security agencies; I have requested a thorough investigation by security agencies into the publication by Mr. Binniyat.
“I have alerted the national leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as well as the union’s Kaduna State Council as a mark of respect.
“I have also noticed some emotional mobilization to deflect attention from the crux of this matter which is injurious falsehood and defamation, and cloak my necessary reaction as an attack on freedom of expression.
“This total misrepresentation of the issue is simply roguish, petty and mundane.
“I have therefore considered it necessary to address you on this matter, for your adequate information.
“This will also serve to inform you of the actions I have been compelled to take to stem the horrendous damage to my reputation intended by the author of the defamatory story.”
