Insurgency: Military needs media support

There has been divergent views about the role the media is expected to play in the ongoing fight against insurgency and terrorism. While some people believe that the media should as usual just be neutral in its reportage others are of the view that development of the journalism calls for patriotism and naturalism especially due […]

There has been divergent views about the role the media is expected to play in the ongoing fight against insurgency and terrorism. While some people believe that the media should as usual just be neutral in its reportage others are of the view that development of the journalism calls for patriotism and naturalism especially due to the current wide spread insurgency activities being witnessed across the country. People in support of this view strongly  believe that for the Nigerian army to win its current war against terrorism there is need for support from the public especially the media

It is perhaps because of this view that the leadership of the Nigerian army last week came out and strongly supported the idea  that it was high time for the media to not only show total support against the insurgency war but should even lead the way to enable the soldiers to completely crush out the remnants of Boko Haram visage in the northeastern part of the country.

The current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai did not hide his feelings on this sensitive issue when he said since the Nigerian Army is currently in a state of war there is need for massive public support and understanding for the soldiers.

I agree with the COAS , for the country to win the war all hands must be  on the deck. This is because it is the duty of every one of us to be security conscious and to support the army in its efforts to make everyone safe.

Just like the COAS said while people are asleep the soldiers are there fighting the terrorists.  Therefore, I feel that the least expected of patriotic citizens and the media is to give their unflinching support and assistance to the soldiers to win the war. I want to believe that this is exactly what is happening in developed nations like in the US, Britain, and even Russia where insurgency has been soundly defeated through the combined efforts of their citizens and not just that of  the army.

In fact the type of support needed now should be more pronounced due to the worrisome security situation in some parts of the country. It has made such a support not only an appropriate one but even a necessity especially with the loss of several lives across the country.

The situation has been very deplorable in areas such as north east due to Boko  Haram menace,  militancy in Niger Delta, banditry and kidnappings in Zamfara, Kaduna and  Katsina states; and farmers/herdsmen clashes in Benue, Plateau, Taraba  and Nasarawa states.  Even though the army has degraded the Boko Haram, the effectiveness of its psychological warfare on the psyche of Nigerians was still powerful apart from the fact that the Boko Haram elements are now involved in committing criminal activities after they metamorphosed into what is now known as Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA).

It is because of this reason that all right thinking Nigerians and even groups like the Amnesty International should be able to appreciate the situation and give the army the chance to do its work without necessarily doing something like releasing fake news to the public which might obviously demoralize the soldiers.

Ibrahim Biu, Abuja