Lt. Gen. Taofeed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has emphasized the importance of journalists in counterinsurgency operations, stating that without their complete cooperation, the military is unable to eliminate insurgency, banditry, and other threats.
In the continuous efforts to secure the nation, he said, the military and the media should be important allies.
At the Nigerian Army civil-military cooperation media chat for the third quarter of 2024 in Makurdi, Benue State, yesterday, the army chief spoke through a representative.
Lt. Gen. Hilary Nzan, Maj. Gen., Commander, 4 Special Forces Command Headquarters, Doma, is the representative.
The Nigerian Army reiterates its dedication to a robust, mutually beneficial partnership with the media, which is crucial for safeguarding our country’s territorial integrity and promoting socioeconomic development, according to Lagbaja.
“The media is essential to keeping the public informed and educated about the actions of the government and its agencies, such as the Nigerian Army and the duties of responsible citizenship.
Together, let’s maintain press freedom, human rights, and democratic values while bolstering our civil-military collaboration.
“The Nigerian Army is committed to preserving operational security while expanding media access to our operations. This pledge emphasizes how crucial it is to have an open communication strategy and how the media and the Nigerian Army must accept their respective roles and duties.Our steadfast commitment to promoting effective and transparent communication between the Nigerian Army and the media is embodied in this media talk. It is essential to provide fair and accurate information to foster trust between the Army and the public.
He continued by saying that the military has achieved important victories in the conflict with banditry and insurgency.
“The Nigerian Army has increased operations in multiple regions, implementing customized tactics to tackle the distinct security risks associated with each area.” I’m happy to announce that these initiatives have had notable success in several theaters. Several terrorists and their leaders have been neutralized, and some kidnapped villages have been rescued, enabling internally displaced people to return to their ancestral homes. Along with improving food security through specialized patrols and escort responsibilities that allow farmers to plant their crops, our actions have also greatly increased the output of crude oil, he said.
Maj. Gen. Nosakhare Ugbo, chief of civil-military affairs, stated that the Nigerian Army’s non-kinetic line of operation is designed to win over the public’s cooperation and support.
“The people’s support and cooperation are crucial to our operational effectiveness and successes as we carry out our constitutional responsibilities,” he declared.
