Insecurity: The Role Of The Media

By Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor (PhD)

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: I must first start by appreciating the Nigeria Union of Journalist Imo state Council for this singular honor given to me to deliver this lecture on such a grand occasion as this, my job here today is to speak in line with the Theme: Journalism in the 21st century, and my focus will be on insecurity: the role of the media. The role of the media in such a volatile situation we have found ourselves in Imo state, the south- east and Nigeria in general cannot be overemphasized in moments such as this.
One contemporary and recurring challenge facing the Nigerian state is the problem of insecurity which has pervaded almost all parts of the nation. The menace of insecurity is becoming outrageous and devoid of feasible, notable and lasting solution in the past dispensation. Nigerian citizens now sleep with one eye open as a result of insecurity facing the nation. While the spate of insecurity continues, the involvement of certain agencies of government like the police, the army, state security services (SSS) is noticeable. Apart from these agencies and insecurity outfits, the mass media is an important institution that is imperative in the moves to reposition the nation’s security system and restoration of peace at all levels. In any political system, the issue of security is paramount.
Joseph Pulitzer the Hungarian-American newspaper publisher who established and endowed the Pulitzer prizes to honour excellence in journalism (and American literature, music and drama) understood very well the pertinence of the press in any society as a result of which he made the comment above used here as a prelude to this discourse. The press which here to refer to both print and electronic mass media, constitute a major pillar that shapes, nurtures and builds the society. The traditional roles of the mass media in any society which are to inform, educate and entertain are so crucial that societies can hardly progress meaningfully without these channels of mass communication. This is apparently why the third President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson, while underscoring the importance of the press in the society in one of his speeches stated: “…. Were it left for me to choose whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I shall not hesitate a moment to choose the latter”. This assertion further underscore the pertinence of the mass media in any society. Governance in itself is communication based. The mass media facilitate the two-way communication process essential in bridging the gap between government and the governed, including the very essential role of ensuring that the basic values and tenets that keep a society together are promoted among the populace. However, what is not totally absent in any society is crime. This refers to an anti-social act or a failure/refusal to live up to the standard of conduct deemed binding by the rest of the community. Crime also refers to an act or omission which attracts legal punishment. Crime refers to acts which are against the law in any society. Incessant crime breeds insecurity in any society. Violent conflicts which consist of disagreements, clash, collision, or struggle most often constitute crime and all these contribute in creating a state of insecurity in a society if left unchecked. If national security is the freedom of a national territory and its people from want, threat, anxiety and dangers that are internally or externally motivated, then insecurity in a nation refers to acts that are capable of negating the freedom or security in a society. These acts which breed insecurity most often constitute crime. So to combat insecurity means addressing the source of insecurity which is largely crime. The state of insecurity in Nigeria is made obvious by the alarming trend of anti-social acts prevalent in the nation which in the not-so-distant past, were unthinkable and could not be associated with the country. Acts of terrorism by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, incidents of kidnapping in the southeast and South South parts of the country, including agitations by militants in the Niger Delta have become “brands” of crime that have given a negative identity to Nigeria. This is in addition to other conventional crimes – theft, arson, violent ethno-religious conflicts etc. – which the law enforcement agents battle daily. These acts particularly those that involve threat to life have contributed in creating an alarming state of insecurity in some parts of the country. This work examines the critical role of the mass media in combating the upsurge of crime which has led to a state of insecurity in the country, especially in the North, South Eastern and South Southern parts of the country.
I stand before you today deeply concerned and primed with adequate nuance and context to do justice to the theme of how the media can play a critical role in managing and addressing insecurity in our society. In the context of Imo state, the land of hope, no one can really pinpoint where and when the insecurity heightened, but analysts and observers seem to be unanimous on the fact that the specter of violence, particularly the activities of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in addition to the activities of other unsavory characters and undesirable elements, have cast a pall of fear and uncertainty over our communities. This situation demands our urgent attention and concerted action.
The roots of this insecurity are complex and multifaceted. Years of socio-political grievances, coupled with inadequate governance and law enforcement mechanisms, have provided fertile ground for the proliferation of armed groups and the escalation of violence. The ESN, with its alleged links to the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has emerged as a formidable force, disrupting peace and stability in the state. In turn, this has precipitated the rise of armed groups, the proliferation of illegal weapons, and the erosion of trust in law enforcement institutions – all of which have created a breeding ground for conflict and instability. This violence has manifested in various forms – targeted killings, kidnappings, communal clashes, inter-group rivalries – leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
THE MEDIA IN NIGERIA
Media in Nigeria to begin with, which communication channels are referred to as the media? These are channels of information dissemination simultaneously to a large, heterogeneous, anonymous and scattered audience. They primarily include newspapers, magazines books (print media) radio, television, the internet (electronic media), bill boards and posters (outdoor media). These media constitute the basic channels of communication in any society. However, the basic focus of this discourse is on the print (newspapers and magazines), broadcast media (radio and television) and to some extent, the internet. The media here basically refer to the press, a word which originally connotes the print media but is today used to refer to both the print and broadcast media. The mass media are crucial in nation building. Governments can hardly survive without effective use of the mass media. The press are so powerful in a society that Edmund Burke, an 18th century politician first described them as the “Fourth Estate” of the realm, referring to the three major powers in Medieval times in European society which are the Lords (or Nobles), the Clergy, and the Commons Burke described the press sitting in the gallery in the parliament as the most powerful of all estates when compared with the other three estates in the British realm. Today, the press are still called the fourth estate of the realm, the other estates being the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Mass media landscape in Nigeria shows tremendous improvement from the emergence of Reverend Henry Townsend’s in 1859, through the independence era till date. With the emergence of media outfits virtually by the day in Nigeria what the nation boasts of today are mass media of high reckoning, both government and privately owned outfits. Such television stations as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), African Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television among others, are beginning to have a truly global audience, having embarked on satellite broadcast operations. Radio stations such as Radio Nigeria, Ray Power FM, and the numerous state and privately owned outfits provide interesting news and current affairs programmes that impact on the society in one way or the other. Numerous dailies such as The Guardian, Punch, Daily Sun, Thisday, Vanguard, The Nation and Daily Independent, among others, have become dominant communication channels in Nigeria, providing diverse hard and soft news that keep the society informed.
The Nigerian press no doubt, have contributed immensely in making the nation what it is today, from the pre-independence era, through to the independence era, through the time of weathering the storm of military dictatorships to present democracy she is experiencing, the Nigeria newspapers have played an active role in the society, relaying news of politics and political strife and stimulating discussion and thinking on a variety of matters of public interest and importance. In order not to get carried away by the contributions of the mass media today in making far-reaching impact on the Nigerian society, it is pertinent to note that some other media, most of which are defunct today contributed in shaping the nation today. It is hard to forget the contributions of publications in the colonial era such as Lagos Times, Eagles, Lagos Observer, Anglo-African, Lagos Critic, Lagos Weekly Record, The Nigerian Pioneer etc. which were sources of literature, veritable instruments of social mobilization and cooperation, propagators of religious and desirable social and cultural values as well as promoters of free enterprise. The press in Nigeria today are still playing these very important roles in the society, especially in ensuring mass support for the democratic governments at various levels. The news media shape culture, influence politics, play important role in business and affect the daily lives of millions of people, including people’s attitude, conducts and fundamental moral values. Though the press in Nigeria have been faced with challenges. These challenges have not prevented them from impacting on the nation in diverse ways.
INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

Once the word “insecurity” is mentioned while referring to Nigeria, the first words to come to mind are Boko Haram, kidnapping, IPOB, Niger Delta Crises, and ethno-religious crises. These words constitute a brand used in identifying the nature of insecurity peculiar to Nigeria among other African nations. Before the public manifestation of Boko Haram terrorist activities in 2009, Nigeria had been witnessing series of kidnapping of mostly foreign expatriates by militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The militants were said to be agitating against what they saw as injustice against their region. They were initially operating in the creeks but once their activities extended to the streets, they constituted palpable insecurity in the south southern region of Nigeria. Then came the emergence of series of kidnapping in the southeastern part of the country, which contributed to the worsening insecurity level in the south east and south southern geographical regions. These were in addition to the growing level of ethno-religious violence in Jos, Plateau State and some other parts of North central region with reprisal attacks in some parts of the south. At a point, the Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna Lindda’awati Wal-Jihad Islamic sect otherwise known as Boko Haram brought another dimension to the threats to life in Nigeria – terrorism. With a strong aversion to western education and persistence on instituting Sharia law in the Northern states of the country, the group went into a killing spree and suddenly states like Borno, Bauchi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Yobe, Kano Adamawa, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) became insecure at varying degrees, some seriously terrorized while some others had a few flash points. Churches, schools, markets, motor parks, offices and office complexes, special day celebrations (Independence, Christmas, Sallah etc. celebrations), public transport, villages, public and even private places, became insecure and today though attempts are being made by the Federal Government to negotiate with, tension, anxiety, terror, fear and general insecurity are still thick in the air. Thousands have been killed in these flashes of madness.
The consequences of this insecurity are far-reaching and devastating. The lives of innocent citizens have been tragically cut short, families have been displaced from their homes, and the already fragile economy has been further crippled. The fear of violence has instilled a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, making it difficult for people to engage in their daily activities with a sense of normalcy. Nothing epitomizes this more than the daily reality of non-state actors issuing threats to law-abiding citizens to stay at home every Monday. We have all witnessed at one point or the other, the often cowardly attacks on these citizens by those who seek to return us back to the age of fear.
THE ROLE OF MEDIA
To understand how the media could play meaningful role in combating insecurity in Nigeria would require an extensive explanation. This is because mass communication theories haveb explained the likely effect of mass communication process in the society.
Media, crime fighting and security in Nigeria, the point has been made that the media are crucial in the achievement of society-wide objectives, be it in the area of social, health, infrastructural, political, educational or security development. The media constitute one of the most important institutions of socialization and in fact, the major cultural industry responsible for the distribution of ideas in the Nigerian society. Other institutions of socialization such as the church, family, educational institutions, political establishments etc. basically play reinforcement roles to the media by performing their separate functions in the society. This shows that the media impact on the society and determine dominant perceptions, values and attitude. How then can this all-powerful position of the media in the society be utilized in mobilizing against acts of insecurity in Nigeria? The surveillance and correlation functions of the media are at the core of mobilization against acts of insecurity. The surveillance role says the media provide information to the society which is used in opinion molding and attitude adoption. The correlation role says the media relate news and various happenings in the society to the individuals’ life and environment. This is done through interpretation and explanation of the implications of happenings on the life and environment of the masses, including implications of acts that breed insecurity on the society. It is expected that through effective information, the society would gradually turn against such acts. Publicity is critical in exposing and checking vices.
The media, in this critical juncture, plays a pivotal role in addressing the festering issue of insecurity. It serves as a watchdog, scrutinizing government actions, holding authorities accountable, and ensuring that the voices of the people are heard. By providing accurate, unbiased, and timely information, the media can help to dispel misinformation, counter propaganda, and foster understanding among various communities.
However, it is crucial that the media exercises utmost responsibility and professionalism in its reporting. Sensationalized or exaggerated coverage can exacerbate fear and panic, while reckless reporting can endanger lives and impede the efforts of security forces. The media must strike a delicate balance between informing the public and maintaining public safety.
In the context of Imo state, the media has a responsibility to bridge the divisions that have fueled the conflict. By promoting dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect, the media can help to foster a more cohesive and resilient society. It can also play a crucial role in highlighting the voices of victims and marginalized communities, ensuring that their experiences are not overlooked or silenced.
As Joseph Pultizer, the legendary journalist and creator of the Pulitzer prizes for excellence in journalism had said, “publicity may not be the only thing that is needed but it is the one thing without which all other agencies will fail” (Several programmes for creating awareness on crime with a view to discouraging acts of insecurity exist in the media. Such crime specific programmes such as Police Diary on Radio Nigeria, Eagle on Radio sponsored on Radio Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), several pages of newspapers punch ,Guardian ,Thisday,Horn ,Announcer,NewsBreak etc dedicated to crime stories including non-crime specific pages that carry stories, political awareness radio and television programmes which sometimes sensitize the public against crime, the various jingles and promotional messages against violence regularly running on most television and radio station; these are among the efforts being made by the media towards the utilization of publicity in sensitizing against acts that breed insecurity. That acts of insecurity have continued does not mean that these efforts are meaningless. Raising awareness is essential in making the society uncomfortable for such acts to thrive. The need for emphasis on conflict and terrorism reporting in the interest of the public, is essential. The media have been accused of contributing in worsening the state of insecurity and conflicts in Nigeria due to reportage primarily aimed at maximizing profit and increasing audience base. After an analysis of media coverage of diversity and conflict issues by various scholars, Pate in (2011) listed out common practices adopted by the media which tend to contribute negatively to crises situations as follows – selective reporting of prejudicial stereotypes about groups and individuals, reporting inter group conflicts out of their fundamental sociological, economic, political and other contexts, shallow and episodic coverage, total blackout on some groups, individuals or community, use of inflammatory, misleading and sensational headlines to attract sales, publishing inflammatory statements against some people or groups as letters to the editor, attributing statements by individuals to groups making generalized statements not supported facts etc. These are activities which the media need to desist from to make meaningful impact in combating insecurity in Nigeria, otherwise they (mass media) will continue to be seen as fueling insecurity.
The media need to allot specific air time and space to reports on terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of crime capable of breeding insecurity. This is a way of emphasizing the negative impact of such acts on the society. The allotment of specific airtime and space to reporting terrorism, including sponsorship of reporters to embark on independent investigations of terrorist acts in the country were among the suggestions made by journalists in a study on how to combat terrorism through media strategies.
Citizen’s journalism could play a vital role in the utilization of the media to combat insecurity in Nigeria. Citizen’s journalism which is also known as public, participatory, civic or street journalism consists of active participation of members of the public in news gathering and dissemination. It has variously been defined as members of the public playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information), a wide range of activities in which everyday people contribute information or commentary about news.
The media should be utilized by ordinary citizens in exposing crime and sensitizing the public against acts of terror. The pertinence of citizens journalism in combating crime was played out in the brutal murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORTH) at Aluu, a community in Rivers State Nigeria. The recording of the clubbing and burning to death of the four boys was uploaded on the internet and in a few seconds the story went viral. The mass media further spread the story especially from the angle of the public outcry generated by the recorded murder. Cable News Network (CNN) has i-report programme where citizens journalists provide reports that conventional journalists could not get. Citizens journalism makes everyone a reporter. The 2009 presidential election in Iran underscored the pertinence of citizens journalism where virtually every Iranian that had a handset became a reporter and sent stories and pictures of the post election violence across to the world through conventional media such as CNN, BBC FOX News etc. This was after President Ahmadinejad had banned foreign media from operating in the country and also attempted to block internet access in the country. The ordinary citizen can also contribute in exposing acts of insecurity through the numerous phone-in programmes on radio and television, the internet media, especially social media and online versions of conventional media. The various ways the mass media could be effectively adopted in combating insecurity as explained here, require commitment on the part of media workers. Both the public and mass media workers should play complimentary roles as partners in this regard.
The fight against insecurity is not a task for the government alone; it requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, including the media. The path to restoring peace and security in Imo state is arduous and the media, as a powerful force for information and understanding, must play a central role in this endeavor. By upholding its ethical standards, responsibly reporting on the situation, and promoting dialogue and understanding, the media can contribute significantly to the restoration of peace and stability in our state through:
a Volunteering Key pieces of information that can help security agencies in investigation activities.
b. Follow up with Security agencies when certain arrests are made to ensure that innocent citizens are not made to suffer unjustly.
c Insist on interviewing the suspects whenever there is parade of suspect of suspect by security to further understand their involvement or otherwise in the matter.
d Avoid social media sensationalisation .Chunning out junk in your bid to the first to break the news . Fake news is as bad as no news. Always try and carry out due diligence on your news items so that you can have a balanced view on your reports ,that way your news will remain a credible and relible source of information in our society as you have always been .
e. Prioritize Safety of citizens in your reportage. Be conscious of the security implications of the news items your circulating on the general poblic.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the security situation in Imo state poses a serious threat to the well-being of our communities and the overall development of our state. The media, in its capacity as a watchdog, information provider, and bridge-builder, has a vital role to play in addressing this challenge. By exercising its responsibility with integrity, objectivity, and empathy, the media can help to navigate the complexities of the situation and pave the way for a safer, more secure, and harmonious Imo state and Nigeria for all. God Bless NUJ, God bless Imo state, God bless the federal republic of Nigeria.
Thank you once more for having me.