CAS Tasks Security Spokespersons on Crisis Management

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has charged Public Relations Officers and information officers of military, security and response agencies in the country to manage sensitive information with all sense of patriotism.

He gave this charge at a two-day seminar on media engagement in crisis situation for military, security and response agencies in Nigeria organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) in Bauchi with the theme, “Enhancing the Capacity of Public Relations and Information Officers in Addressing Crisis Situations.”

The CAS who was represented by Chief of Administration Airforce Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Augustine Ajibola Jekenu, urged them to relate professionally with the media and the general public, adding that the way and manner they handle information could either calm frayed nerves or compound the situation.

He said: “As information officers from the security and response agencies, you must bear in mind that our country is currently confronted with challenges such as Boko Haram terrorism and other forms of criminality which demand that you exercise a high level of professionalism in the way and manner information about them is disseminated.

“We are all witnesses to crisis of various dimensions ranging from terrorism to kidnappings, armed banditry, cattle rustling, farmers-herdsmen clashes, pipeline vandalism and ritual killings among others which currently pose a challenge to security agencies in our country.”