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Nigeria Wazobia FM journalists held over polio deaths Nigeria journalists charged over Kano polio deaths
(about 9 hours later)
Two Nigerian journalists have been arrested over the killing of nine female polio vaccinators in northern Kano state on Friday, police have said. Two Nigerian journalists have been charged in court over the killing of nine female polio vaccinators in northern Kano state on Friday.
Kano police chief Ibrahim Idris told the BBC the journalists would be charged with culpable homicide. They were charged with conspiracy and inciting a disturbance.
They had incited the public to oppose vaccinations through their Wazobia FM radio station, he alleged. Their Wazobia FM radio station had aired the views of people opposed to polio vaccinations in the mainly Muslim north two days before the killings.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reportedly said it was "troubled" by the prosecution.
Some Muslim leaders in northern Nigeria believe polio vaccinations cause infertility among women.Some Muslim leaders in northern Nigeria believe polio vaccinations cause infertility among women.
They see it as a Western conspiracy to reduce the Muslim population.They see it as a Western conspiracy to reduce the Muslim population.
'Lesser charges'
Such opposition is a major reason why Nigeria is one of just three countries where polio is still endemic.Such opposition is a major reason why Nigeria is one of just three countries where polio is still endemic.
There were 121 cases of polio in Nigeria last year, compared to 58 in Pakistan and 37 in Afghanistan, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.There were 121 cases of polio in Nigeria last year, compared to 58 in Pakistan and 37 in Afghanistan, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
No group has said it carried out Friday's two separate attacks on the polio vaccinators.No group has said it carried out Friday's two separate attacks on the polio vaccinators.
Some have accused Islamist militant Boko Haram of the killings but the group has not commented on the allegations. Some have accused Islamist militant group Boko Haram of the killings but it has not commented on the allegations.
In the first attack in Kano, vaccinators were shot dead by gunmen who drove up on a motor tricycle.In the first attack in Kano, vaccinators were shot dead by gunmen who drove up on a motor tricycle.
Thirty minutes later gunmen targeted a clinic outside Kano city as the vaccinators prepared to start work.Thirty minutes later gunmen targeted a clinic outside Kano city as the vaccinators prepared to start work.
Mr Idris told the BBC the journalists had incited the public to reject polio immunisation, in a programme broadcast two days before the attacks. Kano police chief Ibrahim Idris earlier told the BBC the journalists would face a charge of culpable homicide.
Wazobia's station chief Sanusi Bello Kankarofi told AFP news agency that a presenter and a reporter were being held by Kano police, along with a man who featured on their programme. But during a court hearing in Kano, prosecutors brought lesser charges that included conspiracy, inciting a disturbance and obstruction of a public servant, AP news agency reports.
A third journalist had been released after being questioned, Mr Kankarofi said. Wazobia's station chief Sanusi Bello Kankarofi told AFP news agency that a third journalist was released after being questioned by police.
Wazobia's popular Sandar Girma programme focused on a man who was allegedly forced to submit his children to vaccinations by district officials, AFP reports. He said a man who featured on their popular Sandar Girma programme, and was allegedly forced to submit his children to vaccinations by district officials, was also arrested.
The children's father is among those being held, it quotes Mr Kankarofi as saying. Mohamed Keita, an official with the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York, said the group was "troubled" by the arrests as there appeared to be no evidence linking the programme to the killings, AP reports.
"We call on Nigerian authorities to afford the journalists due process under the law,'' he is quoted as saying.
Nigerian journalists often complain about harassment by police and secret security service agents.