For the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), jihadists and other terrorist onslaught on Nigerians is not more damaging as the reporting of the attacks.
In a letter dated July 7 and signed by Francisca Aiyetan, director of broadcast monitoring, the NBC directed radio and television stations not to ‘glamourise the nefarious activities of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.’ Aiyetan did not, however, show proof that such was the case.
The letter was titled ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution.’
The NBC says broadcasters should not divulge “too many details” of those attacks against Nigerians because it may have an adverse effect on the efforts of the Nigerian security agencies. What that means, the NBC did not explain.
The NBC also accused the broadcasters of discussing security topics in a way that is“ethnological coating” which pitches “one section of the country against the other and leaving Nigerians in daily hysteria.”
Fulani herdsmen have been linked to many of the kidnappings going on in the country. The NBC, by its memo, may be asking broadcasters to not report that Fulani herdsmen are the perpetrators of many of the school kidnappings ongoing. Curiously, even leaders of the Fulani, like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, have acknowledged that the Fulani herdsmen were largely responsible for the kidnappings. Gumi even claimed that it is a tribal war. It is still unclear what he meant by that.
But the NBC memo claims: “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 NBC also cited codes which states that: “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.”