The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ ) is deeply concerned by the violent act of Al-Shabaab militant group who confiscated the whole equipment of radio Balad including the FM transmitter on Friday morning on March 2, 2018, after taken over the Balad district about 30Km north to the Somali capital Mogadishu.
According to the Director of Balad radio Abdihakim Hussien Islow when militants took over the city on Friday morning they directly went towards the radio premises, besieged and looted all the equipments of the FM radio including the radio transmitter and all computers in the building.
‘‘Extremists also ransacked the archive of the radio and destroyed most of them’’ Abdihakim added.
‘‘This is a strong demonstration of the gravity of media repression by al Shabaab. We are very concerned and condemning in the strongest terms at the obvious intent to crackdown and take away the only FM radio in Balad town’’ Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu NUSOJ Secretary General said on Friday.
‘‘This s totally denouncing the unjustifiable move by the militants and we urge them to respect freedom of expression and the work of independent’’ Mahir Jama Aden NUSOJ President said.
Radio Balcad was the only radio station in the city which the community was heavily connected and listened to, so Balad people have now lost the access of information and entertainment they used to gain from the radio.
Source: NUSOJ
