User:Crtew/Zakariya Isa

Zakariya Isa, also known as Alhaji Zakariya Isa, was a Nigerian journalist for Nigerian Television Authority in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria who was killed by Boko Haram extremist Islamic terrorists,  as they accused the journalist of spying.

Personal
Zakariya Isa was born around 1970 in Nigeria. In 1992 Isa began his work as a journalist which forced him to leave his two wives and two children. After leaving his wives and children he resided in Maiduguri. He was 41 years old when he was killed.

Career
Isa was a videographer journalist employed under the government owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Death
Zakariya Isa was pronounced dead around 7:30 p.m. October 22, 2011. The Boko Haram radical Islamic group is accused for the murder after shooting him in the head several times outside his home in Maiduguri. An insurgent working for Boko Haram named Abul Qaqa announced the murder of Zakariya Isa after the terrorist organization had been attacking any media groups stating their reports were misrepresentations of what they were trying to achieve. The claim from Abul Qaqa as to why the extremist group killed Isa was released from Agence France-Presse following the murder, "because he was spying on us for Nigerian security authorities." Agence France-Presse said local journalists and Nigerian authorities confirmed this incorrect.

Context
Boko Haram, a term used in Nigeria by the native Hausa language that translates to English as "Western education is sin". In Nigeria, Boko Haram is known as one of the most deadly Islamic extremist groups to ever be seen in the area. The terrorist group has bombed buildings, kidnapped women and children, and murdered public figures. Boko Haram has been named more deadly than ISIS for its killings in Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. The Islamic terrorist group continued to grow, international and Nigerian security agencies have suspicion of the organization forming an alliance with al Qaeda's north African wing. Boko Haram openly confessed to killing twenty-four people during Nigeria's first suicide bombing when explosives blew up the side of the U.N. Headquarters from a car. Before that, in June a car bomb blew up a Abuja police headquarters.

Impact
The death of Zakariya Isa was journalists weren't expecting from Boko Haram. Reports from the area claim being a Nigerian local journalist had become a very dangerous job. Boko Haram's threats to journalists were becoming reality, newspaper headlines read "Now, news hunters become the hunted." Not only were reporters being sought out by terrorist groups, but television and media publications were underpaying them. Often times their salaries long overdue. Large organizations that have a lot of power enjoy having journalists publish what they like. Journalists have been beaten and harassed by thugs in the past. The past few months after Isa's death have gotten especially bad, journalists have said to be unable to walk the streets without wearing bulletproof vests and helmets for protection against Boko Haram and similar extremist groups.

Reactions
Following the murder of Zakariya Isa the Boko Haram extremist group was not quiet on their feelings towards journalists. Spokesman Abul Qaqa came forward with several statements regarding Boko Haram's reasons for murdering Isa. "Zakariya was killed because he was an informant of security agencies...He gave information to security agents that led to the arrest of many of our members. We killed him not because he was a journalist but because of his personal misconduct, which was against the ethics of this profession. We have no grudge against journalists that are working in line with the professional provisions of their work. Whenever they misquote or misrepresent our position we normally call them and tell them to correct the error. We will not hesitate to kill anybody who steps on our toes." It was reported that the State Security Service did not deny he was an informant.

Temporary URLs here

 * CNN:
 * Guardian
 * Reuters
 * Huffington Post
 * CPJ
 * BBC:
 * CNN:
 * Sun News Online
 * APO:
 * SABC News
 * Post Nigeria
 * Africa News:
 * Book1:
 * Book2:
 * UNESCO