The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has alerted media organizations in the country of plots by terrorists to bolster their membership recruitment through dysfunctional information.
The NSA’s alert came as Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described misinformation and fake news as damaging as terrorism.
The duo spoke on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day workshop, titled ”Effective Reporting Towards Strengthening Alternatives to Terrorists Ideology”, in Abuja.
Represented by the Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major- General Adamu Laka, the NSA said: “This is a situation that we must jointly combat to attain a safe and peaceful society that will guarantee sustainable socioeconomic development.
“Information is power, and I strongly believe this saying that the kind of information we process, and the manner we communicate them should be matters of great concern, hence information could be functional with positive expectations or dysfunctional with consequences that are negative and life threatening.
”The media, as the conveyor belt of information, can, therefore, influence either positively or negatively.
“This training is part of efforts in response to the call of the UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action for member states to develop and implement a national communication strategy, and ensure the dissemination of positive content across a wide range of media, both traditional and digital platforms, to counter terrorist appeals and violent extremist narrative.
“The press is capable of exercising power in favour of the state or in favour of the enemies of the state. Media practitioners must always be mindful of this in the discharge of their responsibilities in order to expose societal ills and suspicious characters and activities, garnering support for the government to be able to tackle challenges.
“To achieve this, media practitioners must produce content that would counter or prevent the appeals of terrorism and other non-state armed groups.
“Indeed, there is the need for robust media campaigns against terrorism, violent extremism and all other forms of organized crime that are threatening our corporate existence as a country.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the media held an immense power to influence minds, shape narratives, and promote peace, adding that misinformation and fake news were as damaging as terrorism.
His words: “In the fight against terrorism, the media can either undermine or bolster our collective efforts to provide alternatives to extremist ideologies.
“Through your reports, images, and commentaries, you have the unique ability to educate, inform, and inspire resilience among the public.
“Terrorism is not merely a physical threat, it is an ideological battle of the mind with the extremist groups exploiting vulnerabilities, spreading fear, and propagating messages that present them as fighting a social cause, in order to further their depraved agenda.
“To counter this, we must offer compelling, positive alternatives that resonate with the same audiences targeted by terrorists. Therefore, your reporting plays a pivotal role in this endeavour.
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“To achieve this, the media should continue to project successful initiatives and programmes of NCTC and ONSA that counter radicalization as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists into the community.
“I will enjoin the defence correspondents/reporters to work closely with security experts, sociologists, psychologists, and community leaders to provide a multi-faceted perspective on terrorism and its alternatives.”
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