The Federal Government has urged Nigerian media houses to avoid giving prominent coverage to terror!sts, band!ts and other criminal groups, warning that such publicity helps amplify their activities and undermines national security efforts.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal during 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 on Thursday, June 18.
“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.
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,” he said
According to Idris, a secure and peaceful nation is essential for the survival and growth of the media industry. He called on journalists to highlight the sacrifices and successes of security personnel who continue to risk their lives to protect the country.
“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 said