The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has told television and radio stations to desist from wholly report of activities bordering on terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The order was contained in a letter to electronic stations authored by the Director, NBC Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah.
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The letter entitled, Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A need for caution, frowned at the manner presenters and guests shared details of terror attacks published by newspapers while reviewing news publications saying talking about it without leaving anything out including names of victims amounted to glamourising the unwholesome acts.
It added that doing so, may also jeopardize efforts by security operatives to track the perpetrators.
It partly reads: “Headlines of most Newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.
“The Commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by;
“Not glamourising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc
“Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.
“Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.”
The Commission also reminded the broadcast stations to be guided by provisions of Sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NBC Code which states thus:
“The broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the divisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
“In reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy and neutrality.”
