The Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu, has cautioned media professionals against sensational reportage that conferred undeserved publicity to the cowardly activities of bandits and terrorists.
Aremu gave this advice in Ilorin, Kwara State, as the government and people of the state grappled with the aftermath of the terror attack on the people of Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama local government area of the state.
Speaking on the sidelines of his electronic membership registration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Baboko Ward in Ilorin West local government area, Aremu observed that the terror attacks on Woro and Nuku communities, which resulted in mass murder of residents, elicited humanitarian crisis tasks professionalism of journalists with respect to “ethics, balance and sobriety”.
Aremu, who is a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, said given that: “Media coverage of terrorist attacks often influences public perception,” explaining that journalists must remain mature and less sensational.
Commendable Efforts
The Frontline Labour Leader said rather than promoting gory stories of deaths and destruction being the trademarks of cowardly extremists who operate in darkness, the media should bring to the fore the commendable efforts of the affected communities, state and the federal government under President Bola Tinubu to overcome the pain and stem the tide of attacks.
While commending the prompt response of both the Kwara State government and the federal government through security deployments, humanitarian aid to Woro and Nuku communities, Aremu, however advised that efforts should be intensified on prevention through prompt actions on intelligence reports about possible attacks.
Aremu said: “It was time for developmental approach to fighting terrorism through reclaiming ungoverned spaces through growth and development. “ Let there be industries, agri allied industries, schools and governments and roads, and electrification , gainfully employ the youths and make them less vulnerable to extremism. There are three solutions to terrorism: development, development and development.”
At the event, prayers and a minute’s silence were observed for all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.
Lateefah Ibrahim