Beam Your Light On Security Agencies' Efforts, Brigade Commander Tasks Journalists
By Ebi COLLINS
The Commander, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brigadier General Muftau Ibrahim, has tasked the Nigerian media to beam its light on the tremendous efforts of security agencies in fighting insecurity, crime and criminality in the country.
The Major General, who gave the charge, Wednesday, when the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River Council, paid him a courtesy visit at the Brigade headquarters in Calabar, said: "Without the media beaming light on the activities and wins of the Nigerian Army, it will not be known and there would be a lot of misinformation.
Acknowledging the important role the media plays in national development, Ibrahim appealed for more exposure of the wins of the military, rather than amplifying activities of criminal elements.
Speaking further, he pointed out that though the Nigerian Army had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the media, the social media has continued to be a great concern, where many people hide in its cloak to incite the public with provocative statements capable of destroying the stability of the nation.
He said some of the perpetrators of these heinous acts know little or nothing about Nigeria or security, yet they make the loudest on social media just to destroy the nation.
"It is important that we love, secure and be patriotic towards our nation; I don't believe anything is wrong with Nigeria, some citizens are just the ones bent on giving the nation a bad image, when in reality, this nation is blessed," he maintained.
"Sometimes, we take action that the civil populace don't understand and sometimes, there are accidents but our intentions at the end of it all is the peace and security of Nigeria," he said.
According to him, "all the criminal elements need is to win once and they are all over the media while the Nigerian military wins everyday, yet no one notices.
He disclosed that no militancy or insurgency can survive in a location without the support of local populace.
The commander who said every geopolitical zone in Nigeria was bedeviled with one security challenge or the other noted that Cross River was relatively peaceful because the people are naturally peace loving.
On her part, the Chairman of the NUJ, Cross River Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, commended the army for the enormous work it was doing in maintaining peace, security, stability and the nation's territorial integrity.
Bassey said the army was not duly appreciated except during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which she maintained, was not enough to celebrate the heroics of the uniform men in the nation.
She expressed her Union's readiness to partner with the army to ensure that its activities and germane efforts are brought to the fore.
Brigadier General Muftau Ibrahim is the 46th Commander of 13 Brigade Calabar and assumed the responsibility in January, 2024.
