Kaduna State House of Assembly has dismissed as false and malicious a report alleging that the member representing Kajuru constituency, Hon. Usman Garba, popularly known as “Zingo” was abducted by suspected terrorists.
In a statement issued yesterday, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, NGOs and Development Partners, Hon. Henry Marah, described the online publication as entirely fictitious.
The Assembly clarified that the duly elected lawmaker representing Kajuru constituency is Hon. Usman Stingo, who is safe and currently discharging his legislative duties.
“For the record, the duly elected representative for Kajuru constituency is Hon. Usman Stingo, who is safe and currently carrying out his official duties,” the legislature said.
It also faulted the photograph used in the publication, noting that it did not represent the leadership of the constituency and further demonstrated a lack of due diligence by the media organisation.
The Assembly said the report was a calculated attempt to incite fear, cause public unrest and undermine confidence in the government’s security architecture.
It warned that it would not hesitate to institute legal action against any individual or organisation found culpable in spreading what it described as defamatory and destabilising information.
“While freedom of the press is a constitutional right, it does not grant a license for reckless journalism that threatens state security and public peace”.
The Assembly urged residents of the State to disregard the report and remain calm, assuring that the Kaduna State Government remains committed to protecting life and property.
It further advised members of the public to rely on official communication channels for verified information and to refrain from sharing unverified reports that could cause panic.
The Assembly reiterated that the government would continue to implement measures to strengthen security and sustain peace and stability across the State.
