The Federal Government has called on Nigerian media organisations to stop giving prominent coverage to terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, warning that such publicity only strengthens their influence and undermines national security efforts.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal on Thursday at a two-day National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
Idris urged journalists and editors to exercise greater discretion in their reporting, stressing that responsible journalism involves knowing what information should not be amplified in the interest of national development.
“Yes, we have to do our work. We have to report whatever happens, but you must know that the best reporter, the best editor, is the one who knows what not to report in the interest of nation-building,” he said.
The minister lamented what he described as the excessive media attention often given to criminal groups, saying such exposure provides them with the publicity they seek.
“Please, take these terrorists and criminals off your front pages. This is what they crave, free of charge. It saddens me when I see our front pages reporting the activities of these criminals while underplaying the achievements of our security agencies,” Idris added.
He emphasised that a secure and peaceful Nigeria remains critical to the survival and growth of the media industry and other sectors of the economy.
According to him, journalists should also focus on highlighting the sacrifices, bravery and successes of security personnel who continue to risk their lives in the fight against insecurity.
“We must have a Nigeria to report first before we can even have a union or any other media organisation. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this nation survives,” he stated.
The summit brought together media practitioners, security experts and government officials to discuss the role of the press in promoting national security and strengthening public confidence in ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security challenges across the country.
