“Stop Giving Free Publicity to Terrorists” – Information Minister Mohammed Idris Tells Nigerian Media

• Information Minister Mohammed Idris has called on Nigerian media outlets to reduce the prominence given to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups in news coverage.
• Speaking at a security summit organised by the NUJ and DSS, Idris said excessive publicity helps criminals spread fear, while stressing that his remarks were not a call for censorship but for responsible journalism.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged media organisations across the country to stop giving excessive publicity to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements, warning that such coverage helps them spread fear and achieve their objectives.

The minister made the call while speaking at a security summit organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in partnership with the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to Idris, journalists should exercise greater caution when reporting security-related issues and avoid giving criminal groups the attention they seek.

“Please take these terrorists and criminals off your front pages. This is what they crave for free of charge.”

The minister expressed concern over what he described as the frequent prominence given to reports of criminal activities, while the efforts and sacrifices of security agencies often receive less attention.

“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 stressed that his remarks should not be interpreted as a call for censorship but rather as an appeal for responsible journalism that takes national security and unity into consideration.

“Nobody is calling for censorship. Nobody is asking the media not to do its job, but we must know that we must have a country to keep.”

He further noted that Nigeria continues to battle multiple security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, misinformation, and organised crime, making cooperation between the media and security agencies increasingly important.

The minister added that experienced journalists understand the importance of balancing public information with the broader interests of nation-building and national stability.