Ese Oruru: Nuj, Npc Caution Media Over Reportage Of Minors

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, March 03, (THEWILL) – Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile, National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Thursday enjoined the media to be careful in revealing the identity of a minor in their reportage.

Abdulwaheed Odusiled

Odusile gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while reacting to the issue of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was abducted by Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow.

Odusile said it was wrong for the conventional media to have revealed her identity and used her photograph the way the social media did.

He said that the media should have used a blurred picture of Oruru, in spite the fact that her parents were desperately looking for her.

Similarly, Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council, appealed to the media to operate within the ambit of the Code of Ethics of Journalism practice in Nigeria.

Njemanze also emphasised the need for Journalists to always be mindful of the provisions of the code in covering or reporting issues that involved minors.

“We appeal to the media to always ensure that whatever they do is within the ambit of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalism.”

“Section 9 of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists clearly state that a journalist, while covering issues on a minor, should not identify, either by name or picture, or interview children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants.”

“The code is specific on that; but in looking at the case that relates to Ese Ururu, you will find out that the parents had been in the sustained campaign to free their child.”

“I don't know whether as a result of the sustained campaign by the parents to get their daughter free if the social media had the right to print her picture.”

The Executive Secretary, however, advised the traditional media to be mindful of their role rather than tow the path of the social media.

NAN