A journalist has been apprehended in Niger Republic after he was alleged to be working in concert with Boko Haram insurgents and spreading false propaganda.
The journalist, Moussa Tchangari is the leader of Alternative Espace Citizen, an organisation which has been critical of moves by the Niger government to curb the advances of the terrorists.
Earlier in the month, the group released a report criticizing the government after the evacuation of 25,000 Lake Chad residents.
Tchangari said those evacuated “walked for more than 50 kilometres (30 miles)” until they reached safety. No preparations were in place to welcome… or support them.”
The Niger interior minister, Hassoumi Massaoudou, while announcing Tchangari’s arrest said the journalist “has been collaborating with Boko Haram for some time, and he is actively spreading propaganda and false news in liaison with Boko Haram.”
Speaking to the AFP, the minister said: “All his propaganda aims to show… that Niger’s defence and security forces are the criminals… (and) not Boko Haram.” He said that Niger cannot “tolerate such an active collaboration with terrorists”, or such “systematic spreading of false news.”
