The Nigerian Army, on Sunday, said it had intensified operations across various regions of the country with tailored strategies to handle the unique security threats in each region.

Olufemi Oluyede, Lieutenant General and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who disclosed this at a media chat organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs, held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, however, called on all Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army towards promoting nation-building and development through enhanced national security.

Oluyede, who spoke through the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu said the collaboration and partnership between the Nigerian Army and the media remains fundamental to achieving national security objectives which is crucial for maintaining peace, harmony, and securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

According to him, in order to foster effective collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the Media, it is essential to encourage open dialogue and mutual respect.

He said; “we must establish regular communication channels to enable transparent reportage, timely dissemination of information, countering disinformation and misinformation while building public confidence.

“Therefore, I urge media practitioners at all levels to uphold responsibility, accuracy, and fairness when reporting the Nigerian Army activities and to balance national security interests with the people’s right to information. This is also crucial to avoid spreading misinformation or inflammatory contents that could undermine national unity and security. To this end I encourage media practitioners to always verify information before disseminating it to the public.

“Together, we can enhance public understanding, build trust, and promote greater welfare of our beloved nation. To achieve this, it is important that our collaboration extends beyond conflict reporting to include national development, peace building, and community engagements.”

The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, of the Nigerian Army, Major General Gold Chibuisi, in his welcome remarks, described the second edition of the Nigerian Army Civil-Military Media Chat as a strategic platform aimed at deepening mutual understanding between the Army and media stakeholders in the collective fight against insecurity.

Timothy Antigha (Rtd), Executive Director, Armed Forces Radio Service Abuja, who spoke on “Enhancing Information for National Security and Development: Nigerian Military Operations in Perspective,” noted that the Nigerian Army regularly conducts social media seminars aimed at bridging the information gap and countering fake news and inflammatory content, particularly those related to the Army and national security.