The Nigerian Army is seeking a more deliberate partnership with the media in the North West region, as it moves to strengthen the information dimension of counter-terrorism operations and prevent terrorist groups from exploiting publicity, fear and misinformation.
The Theatre Commander, Major General Warrah Idris, said the media remains a critical partner in the campaign to restore lasting peace and security across the region.
Major General Idris made the call during a media parley hosted at the Theatre Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State.
The engagement, the first of its kind at the Theatre, brought together media practitioners from across the state for discussions on security reporting, information management and military-media relations.
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In a statement by Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Theatre Commander noted that troops continue to make significant sacrifices through sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations, but stressed that military action must be complemented by responsible media engagement.
He identified the media as strategically positioned to shape public understanding of the security situation, strengthen national resilience and build confidence in efforts to restore stability across affected communities.
Major General Idris also drew attention to the information space as an increasingly important dimension of the counter-terrorism campaign.
He noted that terrorists seek not only to inflict physical harm but also to spread fear, attract publicity and exaggerate their strength.
He therefore urged journalists to exercise greater care in framing terrorism-related reports, particularly against headlines and narratives that could inadvertently glorify terrorist groups, romanticise their activities or provide them with psychological and publicity advantages.
Idris equally called for sensitive security information to be properly verified through appropriate channels, urging journalists to report operational developments accurately, responsibly and within the proper context.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zamfara State Council, Ibrahim Musa Maizare, welcomed the engagement and thanked the Theatre Commander for initiating the parley.
He described it as a significant development in military-media relations in the state and pledged the support and cooperation of journalists with the military’s efforts to restore lasting peace.
