The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has tasked media over reportage on terrorism. Yesterday, he urged the media not to glamourise attacks of the Boko Haram sect.
Mohammed spoke during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Punch Nigeria Limited in Magboro, Ogun State.
He appealed to the media in the country to exercise restraint in their reportage of Boko Haram attacks.
“When we glamourise the attacks, it gives the terrorists more life, and in a time of insurgency like this, the media also has a role to play, which is not to glamorise the attacks. Publicity is the oxygen that any insurgent or group uses to survive; we are not saying that you should not report what is happening. We do not intend to censor, interfere in your sense of judgement or editorial. We believe in times of war, the media should know that it has to be on the side of the country,” the minister said.
He said that reports in the media are giving the public the impression that government is losing the war on terrorism; and emphasised that the federal government had met the December deadline on terrorism.
“I think the military has largely succeeded in wiping out Boko Haram”, he said.
The minister said that isolated bomb attacks on soft targets should not be confused with insurgency, stating that such soft attacks would be hard to eliminate.
“We insist that we have met it; it is not rhetoric, it is true and the military has done its part, Boko Haram has been defeated. What is missing is the civilian end of the war,” he stated.
The minister urged the media to support the government in the public service campaign on what Islam is and the sensitisation on how to identify Improvised Explosive Devices and suicide bombers.
“The media needs to play its role now and that is also reporting the progress reports,” he said.
Madagali: Adamawa Government Dispatches Assessment Team
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State government has dispatched an assessment team to Madagali over Monday’s suicide bombing that claimed 17 lives.
The state commissioner for information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, made this known to newsmen yesterday in Yola.
He said, “So far, we have 17 dead and 41 injured who have been taken to hospitals in Madagali, Mubi and Yola.
“The state government has directed free treatment for the injured”.
The commissioner urged residents to be more vigilant to prevent such attacks and report suspicious movements and objects to security agencies. [FMI/NAN]
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate