The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, has cautioned media practitioners against the premature disclosure of sensitive security information, warning that such actions could compromise ongoing operations, endanger lives, and inadvertently aid terrorists and criminal networks.
Maj.-Gen. Laka gave the warning during the End-of-the-Year Media Parley held on Monday, 23 December 2025, in Abuja, where he spoke on behalf of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mni.
According to him, the rapid pace of modern news cycles and digital virality has heightened the risk of operational details being exploited by criminal elements who actively monitor open-source information to evade security measures.
He emphasized that the call to the media was not for censorship or silence but for professionalism and discernment, stressing that national security considerations must guide decisions on the timing and depth of security-related reports.
Maj.-Gen. Laka reaffirmed that press freedom and national security are mutually reinforcing pillars of democracy, noting that a well-informed public must be balanced with the protection of sensitive security processes and intelligence-driven operations.
He assured journalists of the NCTC’s commitment to sustained engagement through regular briefings, background sessions, and structured information-sharing mechanisms to promote accurate, contextual, and responsible reporting.
Looking ahead, the NCTC Director-General warned that terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, and organized crime continue to evolve in tactics and sophistication, underscoring the need for strategic communication, intelligence fusion, and national cohesion.
He described the media as a critical partner in denying criminal groups the publicity they seek, while reinforcing public confidence in the government’s resolve and capacity to safeguard lives and property across the country.
