Mohammed said this while urging media practitioners to intensify efforts according to the priority of national interest in discharging their constitutional and professional duties.

He also noted that the marching order given by the President Muhammudu Buharu to security agents to hunt, pursue and speak to terrorists has started yielding positive results.

The minister made the call on Tuesday in Kano at the opening of a two-day National Conference on Culture, Peace and National Security: “The role of the media”, organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).

Mohammed was represented by the Director, International Cultural Relations in the ministry, Mrs Maimuna Idu-Lah.

“It is against this background that the role of critical stakeholders, especially the media, cannot be overemphasised.

“Skewed reporting, as well as the phenomenon of fake news, hate speech and misinformation, has the capacity to worsen the security situation.

“They do not only create fear among the citizens but can also adversely affect the morale of our security personnel.

“We, therefore, appeal to our media practitioners to accord national interest priority in the discharge of their constitutional and professional duties,” he said.

Buhari said this in Kaduna State while celebrating the sacrifices and successes of the Nigerian military in defending Nigeria courageously, urging them to bring peace to the country.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 247 students of the Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, on Thursday, Buhari promised that his government would continue to provide the needed support required to wipe out terrorists from Nigeria.

Buhari told the graduating students: “The response of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping as well as the activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been commendable.

“We have witnessed recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria bearing the hallmark of national and trans-border insurgents trying to cause havoc in Nigeria as well as in neighbouring countries.

“It’ll be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries.”

This comes as a reaction to the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team on Tuesday.

Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, stated that inspite of the attack, the president will not cancel his trip to Dakar, neither would the government give in to the terrorists.

The President Spokesman maintained that the wounds sustained by two affected persons (a protocol officer and a lady) were not life threatening, adding that the injured persons have both been taken to an orthopedic hospital, adding that no life was lost.

Adesina insisted that his principal would join other Heads of States and Presidents for the global conference which is an international obligation before proceeding to his home town in Daura.

Adesina’s comments come a few hours after the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described as sad and unwelcomed, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, involving the convoy of cars carrying the

Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.

Shehu disclosed that the attackers opened fire on the convoy from an ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.

He also assured Nigerians that all personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura and unscathed, safe for two persons in the convoy who are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered.

The President stated this while Speaking at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari also reassured Nigerians that the efforts that resulted in relative peace in South-South, and rescuing of the North-East from the hold of terrorists would be ramped up.

“I will like us to reflect on what the situation was before we came in. How many Local Government Areas were under the control of terrorists in the North-East?

“In the South-South, we all know what the situation was, now we have relative peace. With the resources at our disposal, we have done very well.

“People are very forgetful. Our main problem now is in the North West and North Central. People are killing one another in these places, what for? We are going to be very tough,’’ he said.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, insisting that people will be shocked when details of the investigation on how the sums of money were transferred to the group will be fully disclosed.

According to him, the government will soon make public the names of those who are behind these evil acts.

“Bureaus de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE.

“Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically. And I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,” he said.

He also said places of worship are used to harbour killers of security agents in the country, assuring that heads of intelligence agencies are working on it.

He said, “It is shocking to many Nigerian that places of worship and farmland are places where killers of policemen, naval officers and military are being harboured.  This discovery will shock you. But this is going on all over the country.

“The new Service chiefs are working with the Inspector General and heads of intelligence agencies and there is a clear lead.”

He said government would rather deploy all necessary forces to eliminate criminals than to negotiate with bandits and terrorists.

Monguno disclosed this during the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House in Abuja.

According to him, negotiating with the criminals would suggest weakness and incapacity on the part of government.

He said the government would not succumb to blackmail and the use of criminals by proxies to harass innocent citizens.

“While the government is not averse to talking it must apply the necessary force because you can’t trust these people.

“Government wants to use military assets to eliminate them but if along the line, the come out, good. It paints the picture of weakness, incapacity,” Monguno said.