The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged journalists and other media professionals working in areas troubled by armed banditry to give adequate coverage to the efforts of security agencies in combatting the crises.
The minister was speaking in Katsina at an expanded security consultative meeting attended by the state governor and all heads of security agencies as well as Emirs and District Heads in the state.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed expressed dismay over the amount of coverage given to the activities of armed bandits, kidnappers, insurgents and other criminal groups which he described as an impetus to insecurity.
He noted that the measures recently deployed by the federal government which include the shutdown of telecom services in some frontline states and the review of security strategies are yielding desirable results.
The minister urged media organisations to avoid being used as the propaganda mouthpiece of armed bandits and insurgents by glorifying their activities through their reportage.
He noted that positive reportage of the efforts of security agencies serves as a morale booster and tasked security agencies to feed journalists with records of successes being achieved at the warfront.
In his remarks the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji AbdulMumini Kabir Usman urged members of the international community and human rights groups to avoid depicting terrorists as victims with the aim of winning sympathy for them.
He also tasked the judiciary to always mete out appropriate punishments on criminals and publicize it to serve as deterrent to others.
The consultative meeting featured a session where journalists interacted with the Information Minister, heads of security agencies, district heads and other stakeholders on the way forward in curbing insecurity in the country.
Isma’il Adamu