Kidnap, banditry not as bad as journalists report; Nigeria not among top 10 kidnapping nations: Presidency

The media have been urged to exercise restraint in their reportage concerning the current security challenges in some parts of the country.

President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Onanuga said the media had the responsibility to promote laudable actions by the government and make positive criticism based on the overriding national interest


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Kidnap, banditry not as bad as journalists report; Nigeria not among top 10 kidnapping nations: Presidency
“In a report by the World Population Review, Nigeria is not among the top 10 countries in the world, with kidnapping epidemic,” said Mr Onanuga

President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Onanuga said the media had the responsibility to promote laudable actions by the government and make positive criticism based on the overriding national interest.


According to him, screaming headlines that paint gory pictures of the situation will only hurt the country by scaring away genuine local and foreign direct investments.

“Media reporting about cases of kidnapping, communal killings and isolated terrorism acts must show some moderation by not giving the impression that all Nigerians no longer sleep with two eyes closed or are not safe in going about their day-to-day business.

“To sell our newspapers or clickbait, we tend to exaggerate and embellish, sometimes forgetting the social responsibility of the media, not to give the impression that our country is under siege by criminals or that every nook and cranny of our country is under their stranglehold.

“One of our newspapers took this responsibility to heart in its report on the same Tuesday, making its major headline, the efforts by security agents to rein in the minority vagabonds in our midst,” he said.

The presidential aide stated that though Nigeria had yet to reach the zenith of security, it was still not the worst country in terms of insecurity. For instance, he said that in robbery and kidnapping, Nigeria was not among the most endemic countries, adding that global listing put the country at less than one person to 100,000 persons involved in the crime.

“In a report by the World Population Review, Nigeria is not among the top 10 countries in the world, with kidnapping epidemic. Turkey leads with 42 people kidnapped out of 100,000 people. Lebanon is second with 15 people out of 100,000, and Kuwait is third with 12 out of 100,000 held in captivity.
Canada, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Eswatini and United Kingdom make up the remaining top 10. Kidnapping in Nigeria is 0.334 per 100,000. The frightening headlines on Tuesday were based on the report by the Civil Society Joint Action Group that calls for an emergency on the security situation, surprisingly oblivious that our security agencies have been working in that spirit for a long time, since 2009,” Mr Onanuga added.

He called for support media support in the efforts by security agencies to nip crimes in the bud since the beginning of insecurity in the 1990s.

“Our security agencies deserve society’s appreciation for their efforts so far in trying to nip in the bud the evils of kidnapping, banditry, communal killings and terrorism in our country

Their efforts, most often understated, have made our country safer, at least, than South Africa or the United States, where 44,310 people were killed last year in gun violence,” he explained

The presidential aide said that the government had been putting various kinetic and non-kinetic measures in place to improve the security of lives and property.
“President Tinubu has been providing material support to security agencies to discharge their duties. In recent weeks, we have seen the police setting up a Special Intervention Squad equipped with drones. The DSS has stepped up its anti-kidnapping act, rescuing 154 abducted people in the last few days

Last week, President Tinubu approved N50 billion as special funds to address some of the lingering security challenges in North-East. He also approved special funds to the FCT for the acquisition of equipment to track criminals,” he said.

Mr Onanuga urged all stakeholders to complement the efforts of the national and sub-national governments in tackling insecurity in the country.

https://gazettengr.com/kidnap-banditry-not-as-bad-as-journalists-report-nigeria-not-among-top-10-kidnapping-nations-presidency/

Buhari pro max. president in diaspora. Paris resident

Well done.

Ekiti people, how far?.

Make una save una entire votes to deliver to am for 2027.

APC?

Bandittt

😶

Why do Nigeria presidents like to travel abroad and rest? Was there ever a time a foreign president rested in Nigeria?
Shame on all Nigerian leaders

There was once no Kidnapping in this same Country
Let us go back to that

We don’t want to be among those Narco Republics

What it mean is if you get kidnap you are on your own ooo.
Ekiti victims don go like that 100m or nothing.

Stupid statement by bayo

Facts are sacred. He gave statistics to prove that Nigeria is safer than some of the top countries you're intending to japa to. I'd never be one of those mauling our security forces, they are doing amazingly, putting their lives on the line.

-kiss the truth!

Report says Bayo Onanuga . How come your headline has Tinubu.

Where are the cows 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
We warned you all.
Enjoy for the next 7 years+

Victory662:
Why do Nigeria presidents like to travel abroad and rest? Was there ever a time a foreign president rested in Nigeria?
Shame on all Nigerian leaders

No Nigeria leaders travels abroad to rest.
If it is not official visit, then it is for checkup/treatment.

Ok.

So, we will wait until we enter the top 10 kidnapping nations before the government will start finding a solution.

That means you are on your own for now.

gaby:
Well done.

Ekiti people, how far?.

Make una save una entire votes to deliver to am for 2027.

APC?

Bandittt

Do we have to gloat about similar unfortunate incidents that happened in Enugu, Anambra or Imo?. I think some of you need to get your brain checked. Do you think IF the candidate you support was the president, terrorists or bandits would walk back into their hole because he's the one feeding them?. This menace has been on for 20years and it's growing because many locals are feeding off it.

-kiss the truth!

ivolt:

No Nigeria leaders travels abroad to rest.
If it is not official visit, then it is for checkup/treatment.

And how many times have they come here for treatment?

What of Naira's downward spiral? Is it also not as bad as they are painting it? Just curious

When they have no improvements to offer, propaganda and argumentative monologue become the way out.
Very soon they will tell us Naira situation isn't as bad being reported.

Ogogoro people from top to bottom.

Houseontherock1:
What of Naira's downward spiral? Is it also not as bad as they are painting it? Just curious

People that politics have finished their brains. No governance to deliver.

Fake news from a notorious gutter media outlet People's gazette.

Bayo Onanuga is a fool

kk