Violence, intimidation, and threats against journalists and media workers continue to present a significant challenge to the establishment of a free and safe media environment. The role of news media in Nigeria’s national security cannot be overemphasized. The primary functions of the media in any society are to inform, educate, and entertain. Beyond these, they serve as watchdogs of the society, agenda setters, and force multipliers. Through these functions, the mass media sensitize, enlighten, and persuade members of the public to participate actively in developmental activities. Based on the findings from most undergraduate projects, the ability of the media to effectively carry out these functions depends on the amount of freedom they enjoy in societies where they exist and operate. However, press freedom is very crucial to the effectiveness of media in any society. The information disseminated by the news media could be either harmful or useful to the society.
The mass media have the power and ability to contribute enormously to national security, and this can be achieved through the observance of professional ethics and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. In other words, for the media to contribute meaningfully to national security there is the need for strict adherence to professional ethics of journalism profession. The media are watchdogs of the society. They set agenda for public discussions on issues of national interest.

MASS MEDIA

Mass media could be described as “the channels or technological devices through which messages are conveyed to a large and heterogeneous audience. They are the vehicles that are used for conveying messages from a source to a large destination. In addition, mass media are the devices for moving messages across distance or time to accomplish mass communication.”
Mass media constitute all the means through which messages are relayed from different aspects of the society such as education, entertainment, health, politics, economy, and so on, to a large, heterogeneous, and anonymous audience at the same time.

INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

A nation has security when it does not have to sacrifice its legitimate interests to avoid war, and is able, if challenged, to maintain them by war.
When the capacity to control those domestic and foreign conditions that the public opinion of a given community believes necessary to enjoy its own self determination or autonomy, prosperity and well-being is not available, then it can be said to be insecurity.
From independence to the present democratic dispensation, Nigeria has witnessed series of ethno religious and politically-motivated crises. This has been one of the major causes of the country’s political instability and economic challenges. It has even come to the extent that the word “insecurity” cannot be mentioned without mentioning Nigeria. The first words to come to mind when it comes to insecurity in Nigeria are Boko Haram, kidnapping, 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.
However, before the public manifestation of Boko Haram terrorist activities in 2009, Nigeria had been witnessing series of kidnapping and lots of insecurity issues 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. The Boko Haram constituted the insecurity in the Northern part of the country especially in the North-east of Nigeria and incidents of kidnapping in the Southeast.

JOURNALISM PROFESSION

Journalism is an unbiased production and distribution of reports on current or past events based on facts and supported with proofs or evidences. The word journalism applies to the occupation, as well as citizen journalists who gather and publish unbiased information based on facts and supported with proofs or evidences.
Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. It is also the product of these activities.
Journalism can be distinguished from other activities and products by certain identifiable characteristics and practices. These elements not only separate journalism from other forms of communication, they are what make it indispensable to democratic societies. History reveals that the more democratic a society, the more news, and information it tends to have.

THE ROLE OF THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

Beyond their impact on the individual victims, violence against journalists represents a threat to freedom of expression as a human right. Governments have an obligation to provide adequate protection to members of the press and to thoroughly investigate any violence or threats perpetrated against them.
The mass media which is a medium for dissemination of information to a large population need not to be threatened with the incessant killings and other social vices in the society that constitute an act of insecurity. The government needs to provide adequate security to media personnel and ensure the safety of their lives and properties especially when they go to cover events.
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The mass media which is known as an indispensable tool used for nation building needs an urgent attention of the government this is because Governments can hardly survive without effective use of the mass media as they provide them with all the information they need both locally and internationally.

CONCLUSION

The rising dangers faced by mass media globally is leading to greater levels of concern and support for efforts to improve their safety and to hold accountable those who endanger, harm, hold, or kill journalists.
Most news organizations, however, do not have crisis management plans in place to respond to the kidnapping of their journalists and lack capabilities to respond to them. These deficiencies make it very hard for media organizations initially to respond to abductions. Therefore, government must assure all media personnel’s of their safety by providing them with all the security they need to perform their duties very well and more effectively without hurdles of any sort.