Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Retired Major-General Babagana Monguno, has said that the Federal Government of Nigeria is working to ensure that electoral offenders do not go unpunished.
In a lecture delivered on his behalf by the Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Zakari Usman, at the three-day 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2022 in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday, Munguno said: “It is important to note that one of the major threats to security is electoral violence, which berths national security.
“We are continuously addressing the security risk from fake news and hate speech and through collaborative efforts.
“The government is working with social media companies to ensure the safety of the 2023 general elections.”
Speaking on the subject “2023 General Election and Security: What Editors need to know”, Monguno listed eight categories, which constitute electoral violence.
According to him, there include party on party electoral violence; party on voter electoral violence; party on state electoral violence and; voter on voter electoral violence.
Others are voter on state electoral violence; state on voter electoral violence; state on party electoral violence and; state on state electoral violence.
He, however, warned that ensuring security during elections was not the sole responsibility of the law enforcement agencies alone.
While noting that security agencies and the media hardly agree on what constitutes national security, he, however, urged the media to report their news without amplifying the agenda of detractors sponsoring political insecurity.
“Critical stakeholders in the electoral process, including the press must discharge their duties effectively and efficiently in ensuring security during the elections,” he said, adding that the media should collaborate with the government on issues of national interest by balancing their reports and promoting national unity and cohesion in their reportage.
Monguno also urged the editors and the media in general to put in place fact checking system to contend with fake news by citizen journalists as well as take proactive measures to tackle inciting statements by state and non-state actors.
GIK/APA