Abubakar Mohammed, Maiduguri
The theatre commander of Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin kai, General Gold Chibuisi hosted media familiarisation with journalists, towards sustaining peace in the region at theatre command headquarters Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
During the familiarisation chat, General Chibuisi implored journalists to take ownership of the operations through sincere reportage geared towards building and advocating for peace and not just fulfilling editorial needs.
“I welcome you all to this historic and Important parley, looking at how significant and crucial the media is to the Operational successes of Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI. The desire by the command of operation HADIN KAI to play host to media parley with Defence Correspondence and Representatives of Media organisations in the North East is geared towards building stronger synergy for peace to thrive in the North East Region.“
General Chibuisi also noted that the command has recognised the crucial role played by the Media not just in disseminating information to the people but also in educating and shaping the ideology of the populace and the society at large.
“Choosing to hold this parley at this crucial time is to showcase the jointness and collaboration among the military other critical stakeholders and the media regarding our operational activities, Permit me to state that the Kinetic approach in any asymmetric war constitutes just about 20 percent. Your efforts in passing the right information, and sensitising the civil populace in support of our operations as part of the peace effort constitutes the non-kinetic approach to the Counter insurgency operations.“
General Gold Chibuisi further stated that this parley, is an integral part of the non-kinetic approach and this is among other reasons why we need an improved synergy to achieve this together. Let me remind you that Nigeria remains the only country we have and you must therefore do everything within the law and ethics of your profession to build, nurture and sustain the peace at all cost.
The Borno state NUJ Chairman Comrade Dauda Eliya who spoke on behalf of the journalist working in the state assured the theatre commander of maximum support stressing that journalists in the state have a good rapport with the military, therefore the media parley will foster more collaboration between the military and the media professionals.
