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Media-military relations can be enhanced in conflict reporting–Retired General

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By Gistflash News

July 25, 2021

Rtd. Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman has enumerated ways relationship between the military and the media can be improved in conflict reporting.
Usman, who was the Director, Army Public Relations between 2015 to 2019, made this known at a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Conflict Reporting for Journalists in Abuja.
The programme was organised by Konrad–Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in conjunction with the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).
The retired general noted that over time, the media-military relations in the country had always been characterised by mutual suspicion and lack of understanding.
“The suspicion against the media is not out of place because they tend to report sensationally,x oblivious of the impact and consequences of their action, thus jeopardising military operations, compromising national security, or even the lives of troops and citizens.
“For instance, on December 30th, 2018, a newspaper carried a story on planned military operations against Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, Borno State,” he said.
According to him, this explains why the Nigerian military service media/public relations departments strive to professionalise and strengthen their media relations practice.
These, he said, were geared towards fostering better relations between the military institution and the media.
Usman said to bridge the gap between the military and the media, two strategic approaches could be adopted.
“The first is to build a consensus between the military and the media on what constitutes conflict resolution and how it can be achieved.
“This can be pursued through continued engagement involving media executives and military officers.
“The second is a sustained and continuous training programme for defence correspondents on coverage of conflicts and military operations.
“This would provide an opportunity to understand the workings of the military, its organisation, capabilities, challenges, sensibilities, protocols and how the media can seek and get information from the military in a conflict environment,” he said.
The retired general, who called on the military to be more open, urged the media to be more trusting.
He also advised the media to exercise discretional self-censorship, crosscheck stories before broadcast, publishing or dissemination.
“There should be more comprehensive approach to warfare and military operations by embedding press in military operations.
“The media should do more of investigative journalism rather than reporting as breaking news. Background information is essential.
“There is a need for a National Media and Information Literacy Policy in Nigeria to enhance media performance,” he suggested.
Usman urged the government and the media to be partners in pursuing national security and national interest.
Mr David Ojelabi, Commandant, Peace and Conflict Management Department, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said “war and violence rarely answer anything–but when they happen, journalists and other media staff have a crucial role in cutting through the fog of deception, lies and manipulation of information that inevitably follows.”
He said the task of media practitioners was to show the impact on the lives of ordinary people.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said “journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians.”
The Country Representative of KAS Nigeria, Dr Vladmir Kreck, said conflict reporting remained one of the most difficult fields for journalists to cover with a lot of risks and when not reported correctly, could also escalate crises.
Kreck said that building the capacity of journalists on how to report the crises situation in the country would also help in the successful fight against insurgents, bandits and other non-state actors.
The Executive Director of the PTCIJ, Dapo Olorunyomi, said journalists must show an ultimate allegiance to citizens.
According to him, they must strive to put the public interest– and the truth– above their own self-interest or assumptions.
NAN

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Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers

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Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers
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Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday attacked a police station located in Atani, the headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the gunmen launched the attack on the police facility around 1:30 am on Wednesday.

A further report had it that four police officers were killed in the attack.

Since the emergence of Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State there had been series of attacks on police and government facilities in the state.

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Meanwhile, the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the development.

He said, “The hoodlums came around 1 a.m., and unlucky for us, four police operatives paid the supreme price.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng on hearing of the attack immediately mobilized men of the command from various units to the area.

“The hoodlums were still there when the CP personally led men of the command to the affected area, and the timely arrival saved the day and the hoodlums were successfully repelled, and the facility was saved.

“We have commenced intelligence already, and we hope to unravel the persons behind the attack.”

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Troops repel attack, eliminate scores of terrorists/bandits in Sokoto — Official

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By Gistflash News

Sept 27, 2021

Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, in conjunction with other security agencies have eliminated scores of Islamic States for West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists and bandits in Sokoto State.

Defence Headquarters said on Monday in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyer.

He said the terrorists were eliminated during a foiled attack on the Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Burkusuma, a remote border settlement with Niger Republic in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“The aggressive operations of troops of the FOB as witnessed in recent months in the North West region, had been a thorn in the flesh of ISWAP terrorists and bandits.”

Sawyer stated that the attackers who came in large numbers using telecom network provided from neighboring country, capitalised on the lean rear area protection force.

“This was when the main troops were out conducting offensive operations within their area of responsibility.’’

He disclosed that, the troops recorded an undisclosed number of casualties during the encounter.

“However, the swift reinforcement by own troops helped to counter the attack as many of the ISWAP fighters were eliminated, while some scrambled with various degrees of injuries.

“Troops are currently in hot pursuit of the criminals to Bassira in Niger Republic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nigerian and Nigerien forces in a collaborative operation are currently trailing the remaining ISWAP fighters.

“General security within the FOB and its environs has been stabilised,” he said.

NAN

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Arms proliferation: Navy urges FG to build walls across borders

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By Gistflash News

Sept 27, 2021

The Nigerian Navy has urged the Federal Government to build a wall across the country’s borders to stop proliferation of arms and ammunition.

Commodore Jemima Malafa, who represented the Nigerian Navy, said this during an interactive session on four bills pending before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Monday in Abuja.

“We should build a wall between our country and the  neighbouring countries,” she said.

“I was in Chad recently and discovered that most of the countries that surround us do not have armouries and that is why most of their citizens get arms that they sell to make money.

“I blame foreign countries that sold and donated arms and ammunition for them without recourse to where they would keep them after use.

“It is as a result of this that Nigeria is in deep crisis; these arms and ammunition will always find their way to Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four bills – the first is a bill for an act to establish the National Commission against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Others are a bill for an act to repeal the Explosives Act, and bill for an act to make provision for the integration of private Close Circuit Television (CCTV) into the national security network in Nigeria.

The last one is a bill for an act to designate the month of November as the National Appreciation Month for Security Agencies.

Mr Shehu Ahmed, representative of the Department of Security Service (DSS) in his contribution said the proposed bill for the establishment of the commission was commendable.

He, however, said that the appointment of members to be in charge of the commission should have nothing to do with politics because of the sensitive nature of the commission.

He said that the Director-General of the commission should not be encumbered with too much power, adding that people of questionable characters should not be allowed to work in such office.

He called for the independence of the commission, adding that henceforth, it did not have to source for staff from other security agencies.

He said that on CCTV, all the security agencies should have access to it to aide investigation of any kind, adding that the explosive act bill would help achieve the desired national security.

Commodore Friday Ogohi, a representative of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) said that the bill on National Commission would help in the effective control of light weapons.

He said that the structure of the commission should be hinged on command and control, adding that membership should be drawn from existing security agencies based on experience.

He said that though the supervising ministry was not indicated in the proposed bill, adding that it was advisable that the Ministry of Defence oversaw the commission.

Ogohi also called for the establishment of special court to arrest the menace of arms smugglers and illegal arms, stressing that the CCTV would further boost the fight against bandits and other criminality.

According to him, public places such as schools, churches and work places should be considered for CCTV as this will help to monitor the activities of scavengers by security agencies.

Air Commodore Olasunkami Abu, who represented the Chief of Air Staff, said that proliferation of arms was posing a great threat to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

He said that this portends a great danger to national security, adding that membership of the commission should be drawn from the armed forces and the immigration.

NAN reports that other security agencies that made presentation are the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among others.

NAN

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