Somalia: NUSOJ Condemns the Overnight Media Station raid in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the raid by the privately owned SIMBA radio by the some of the National Security Agency members in Saturday night 28 April 2012.

Four members of the National Security Agency (NSA) raided the premises of the independent radio station, SIMBA Radio at Bakaro market around

8: 25Pm local time, beating some of the staff journalists with pistols and ordering the all the staff to follow them, leaving the station open without even a single guard for 30 minutes.

According to SIMBA radio, at the time of the attack, the radio was airing Sports program, when the NSA members knocked the door in a frightening manner, then entered inside the premises of the radio and directly went into the studio saying the word “Shabab” without a court order, forcing Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulle, who is the head of the radio programs of the SIMBA radio along with two other staff members who were staying the premises at the time of the attack.

“We were ordered at gunpoint to completely leave the premises, while the radio was on air for sports program, taken to a commander and were being interrogated for 30 minutes.” Abdulkadir Abdulle, Head of the Radio programs told NUSOJ, “They did not show us any court letter permitting them to enter the radio station or its staff interrogated,.”

”We were freed after 30 minutes and returned to the station.” Abdulle added.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the unwarranted attack on the radio station and the force disposal its staff followed by harsh interrogations.

“We condemn the violent attack on the SIMBA radio station and the harsh interrogations and intimidation on its staff without court orders” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “We call for the NSA Chief to take action against member agents for their heinous violations over the SIMBA Radio station.”

“We will not accept such dreadful violations happening to our colleague and call for the respect of the Journalists, Media stations accordingly.”

However, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the release of the Director of Codka Nabadda Radio (Radio Voice of Peace) who was held in jail for two months in Bosaso and urge the Puntland Administration to allow the radio station to resume operations.