The federal government has ordered radio and television stations in Nigeria to henceforth, cease from reporting details of attacks by bandits and terrorists.
In a letter titled ‘Newspaper Reviews and Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’ and signed by Francisca Aiyetan on behalf of Balarabe Ilelah, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the broadcast regulatory agency said that going forward, stations should also desist from naming victims of such attacks in order not to “glamourize the nefarious activities of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers in their reports.
The commission advised broadcasters to apply caution in their reportage, saying that divulging too many details may have an adverse effect on the efforts of the Nigerian security agencies.
It asked broadcast stations to be guided by provisions of sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NBC Code, 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.
And in reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy and neutrality.
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