Nigeria journos charged over polio killings

2013-02-12 13:42

(Picture: Shutterstock)

Kano - Police in northern Nigeria say they've arrested three radio journalists over the killings of at least nine female polio vaccinators, saying their on-air discussion about rumours around the vaccine sparked the attack.

Kano state police commissioner Ibrahim Idris said on Tuesday that the journalists, who work for Wazobia FM, will be charged with culpable homicide over the killings on Friday. Officials with the radio station could not be immediately reached for comment.

The radio station aired a programme last week, describing how one of its journalists was manhandled by government officials as he recorded a man refusing to allow his children to be vaccinated. The radio program later discussed long-time rumours in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north that the vaccine sterilises young girls.

Nigeria is one of three countries where polio remains endemic.

- SAPA