Fake news hampering anti-insurgency war – Airforce spokesman

The Nigerian Airforce has said that fake news and other forms of misinformation are hampering the nation’s ongoing actions against Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and other forms of crimes in the country. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Edward Gepkwet, said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the […]

The Nigerian Airforce has said that fake news and other forms of misinformation are hampering the nation’s ongoing actions against Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and other forms of crimes in the country.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Edward Gepkwet, said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the Nigerian Airforce is seeking a sustained collaboration of the NUJ to check dissemination of fake news in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other challenges in the country.

The Nigerian Airforce spokesman, who commended the role of the media in nation building said verification of facts from the military would assist in the dissemination of accurate information to the public.

“There are tendencies for people to get misinformed or misconstrue some of the things that we do. Also important is that we all understand that we are all together in this fight against insurgents. We are all stakeholders.

“The essence of the journalism profession must be adhered to. To be candid to you, we have sometimes received reports that seriously makes us begin to think that some of us are representing a particular part or a particular group or a particular section. It can be very disheartening, seriously it can be.

“Because when we misinform, there lots of people that don’t have a way of verifying what we say and some of this can lead to so many things that we can’t even imagine. You know, so please, we need to ensure that we stick to the ethics of the profession. To balance whatever we are writing, reach out to us anytime you are in doubt,” Gepkwet said.

He stressed the need for both the Armed Forces and the media to work together in keeping the country safe for Socio Economic Development.

Responding, National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, commended the Nigeria Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency and urged the Federal Government to properly equip the Military to enhance service delivery.

Comrade Isiguzo also appealed to the leadership of the Military to prioritize the welfare of personnel at the war front.

He equally pledged the support of the media to the cause of the Nigerian Airforce and also towards building an indivisible and progressive country.