The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerian media organisations to avoid giving excessive publicity to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements, warning that such coverage helps them achieve their objective of spreading fear and insecurity among citizens.
Speaking at a security summit organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Idris called on journalists to exercise greater caution and responsibility when reporting security-related issues across the country.
According to the minister, criminal groups often benefit from the prominence they receive in news reports, particularly when their activities dominate newspaper front pages and headlines. He appealed to media practitioners to reconsider how such stories are presented to the public.
“It saddens my mind. I feel very unhappy when I see our front pages, when I see our headlines, reporting the activities of these criminals and underplaying the ones by the security agencies,” Idris said, noting that the efforts and sacrifices of security personnel frequently receive less attention.
He stressed that his remarks should not be interpreted as a call for censorship, insisting that the media must continue to perform its constitutional duty. However, he maintained that journalists have a responsibility to balance reporting with the broader interest of national unity and security.
Idris further stated that Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime, cybercrime, and the spread of misinformation. He said these threats underscore the need for stronger collaboration between media organisations and security agencies in safeguarding the nation.
Elijah Adeyemi
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