Drop unverified information, support our efforts to make Nigeria secured, peaceful, Army tells Journalists as DAPR Study Period opens

Journalists and other information managers in Nigeria have once again been told the importance of collaborating with the nation’s mainstay of defence, the Army, for a successful, well secured society to be achievable.

This was as the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa called on the practioners to objectively support activities and operations of the Force as it held the Opening Ceremony of the Directorate of Army Public Relations Combined Second and Third Quarter Study Period, which commenced in One Division Headquarters, Kaduna, on Monday.

The Army Spokesman frowned at situation where some media practitioners and social media critics with vested interest unjustifiably accused the military, under report its achievements and glorify or celebrate the terrorists and other criminal elements in the society, an attitude, which The DEFENDER gathered, is main sabotage to security of any nation.

Colonel Musa further advised journalists to desist from unprofessional conduct by which they write and publish unverified stories or fake news.

He, however, showed profound appreciation and thanked the media for their support and understanding so far, even as he maintained that negative reportage championed by some journalists and social media negative activists has the potential of affecting the morale of troops in the frontline fighting terrorism and other criminal elements in the country.

Sagir Musa stated that the Nigerian Army had performed excellently well in checkmating the activities of terrorists and bandits across the country in the last four years.

He pledged that the Force and its Directorate of Army Public Relations in particular will not be deterred by negative reports.

“The Nigerian Army and indeed DAPR shall continue to do our best in the promotion of Human Rights and must not allow negative reports circulated in some media platforms affect our genuine efforts in serving the nation selflessly,” he said.

The Army Spokesman said the aim of the study period hosted by One Division Nigerian Army was to galvanize active participation of participants and personnel of the Directorate in understanding and projecting the towering image and acitivities of Nigerian Army.

Sagir further enjoined participants to take advantage of the interactive session to engage each other with a view to enhancing knowledge through proactive coverage of Nigerian Army events in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff which is “to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional role”.

He expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for his support to the Directorate of Army Public Relations since he assumed office as the Army topman in July 2015.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff represented by the General Officer Commanding One Division Nigerian Army, Major General Faruk Yahaya, tasked the Directorate to lead the fashioning of better innovation that will promote effective civil military relations and Nigerian Army operations.

The week long event with a theme, “Strengthening the Nigerian Army Public Relations’ Capacity in Managing Information in Contemporary Warfare”, is expected to end Friday the 26th of August 2019.

Former resource persons of the Nigerian Army notably Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), Brig. Gen. Sani Kuksheka Usman (rtd), Brig. Gen. John Agim (rtd) including spokespersons of various security agencies (serving and retired) in the country, were present to address participants at the event.

Other personalities who also graced the occasion include former Director Public Relations and Information of the Nigeria Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Director Defence Information, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, representatives from the Nigeria Police and other paramilitary organizations from Abuja and Kaduna axis including Deputy and Assistant Directors of Army Public Relations from various units and formations of the Nigeria Army were in attendance.