FG Urges Media Houses to Shun Giving Prominence to Terrorists and Criminals

The Federal Government has appealed to media organizations in Nigeria to refrain from giving undue attention to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements. This plea was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a two-day National Security Summit held in Abuja on Thursday, June 18. The summit was organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS). Idris emphasized that providing such coverage only serves to amplify the activities of these groups and undermine the nation's security efforts. He stated, '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.' The minister expressed sadness over the tendency of media houses to prioritize the activities of criminals while downplaying the achievements of the nation's security agencies. Idris also highlighted the importance of a secure and peaceful nation for the survival and growth of the media industry, urging journalists to focus on the sacrifices and successes of security personnel who risk their lives to protect the country. He reiterated that the collective responsibility of all stakeholders is to ensure the nation's survival, saying, 'We must have a Nigeria to report first before we can even have a union or any other media organisation.'