TheCable

The Zamfara state government has directed security agencies to take action against media platforms that operate outside the ethics of the profession.

Ibrahim Dosara, Zamfara commissioner for information, disclosed this at a joint media briefing with security agencies on Thursday in Gusau, the state capital.

The commissioner said the state government will monitor media reports and take appropriate action against unprofessional conduct of journalists and social media handlers.

According to NAN, Dosara said the decision was taken as a result of the negative effects of fake reports and unguarded media utterances.

“The Zamfara state government, among its resolutions, recently adopted to take appropriate action against unprofessional conduct in media practices,” he said.

“The state government realises that the print and electronic media activities, especially the social media handlers, undermine the peace process of the state government.

“Let me emphasise here that the state government will never continue to condone the unwholesome act.

“Consequent upon this, the state commissioner of information and security chiefs in the state have been directed to monitor the conduct of media practitioners in the state.

“The commissioner of police, the DSS, the civil defence and I, as commissioner, have been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with professionalism in media practices, as well as cyber crimes and the violation of public peace, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.”

The commissioner maintained that the government will not allow such media reports sabotage the peace process in the state.

He, however, commended journalists who work in line with the ethics of the profession, give objective and balanced reports, especially security issues, and avoid bias in their reports.

The commissioner also said the government and security agencies will respond quickly to inquiries from the media to issues as they arise.