Lagbaja: How Army Can Sustain Counter-terrorism Operations

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, said the country needed a healthy military-media relationship towards winning the war against terrorism.

Lagbaja represented by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan, Major General Bamidele Alabi, made the declaration yesterday, at the Nigerian Army (NA) Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) third quarter media chat held at the Tiger Officers’ Mess, Agodi, Ibadan.

Present at the event were Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Nosakhare Ugbo, Major General Bamidele Omozoje (rtd), Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), media managers and journalists drawn from all sections of the media.

Lagbaja, while speaking on the theme: “Leveraging Media to Enhance Nigeria’s Internal Security Operations”, insisted that a healthy military-media relationship is important to create a positive perception that would sustain popular support to the Army’s counter terrorism operations and other operations being conducted to secure the country and protect innocent citizens.

The Chief of Army Staff, who was the Special Guest of Honour, maintained that the media remained a key partner in the Army’s non-kinetic line of operation for the security of the country, stating that the media chat was part of the civil-military cooperation activities aimed at keeping the media informed, dispel rumours and provide accurate and timely information to the media as an important segment of nation building.

He noted that at a time like this, the Nigerian Army under his leadership had adopted a multi-dimensional approach requiring the collaboration of all, especially the media in confronting challenges facing the country.

While re-assuring the country of the unalloyed loyalty of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the President and the Constitution, the Army boss appreciated the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication in carrying out their duties in the service of the country.

“At a time like this, when the nation is inundated with a myriad of internal security challenges, the Nigerian Army under my leadership has adopted a multi-dimensional approach requiring the collaboration of all especially the media in confronting these challenges.

“Thus, a forum such as this media chat is important for a more detailed examination of issues that relate to the Nigerian Army, in order to provide context and other perspectives to the issues,” he said.