Army solicits media support to crush Boko Haram

THE Nigerian Army on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to closer collaboration with the media in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

The General Commanding Officer (GOC), 7 Division, Maiduguri, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said this when members of the Borno Correspondents Chapel paid him a courtesy visit.

Yusuf said that such working relationship was imperative to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign and restoration of peace to the region.

He said there was a need for the media to create awareness on the ills of the Boko Haram ideologies and fast track de-radicalisation process.

“Presently, we have a community sensitisation and psychosocial support programme which is yielding positive results.

“Whenever the insurgents surrender to our troops, they are worried about their lives because they have the notion that they will kill them,” he said.

He disclosed that the military authorities had allowed the surrendered insurgents to speak in order to encourage those still in the bush to surrender.

The commander, therefore, called on the media to sensitise the people to be vigilant and cooperate with the military to enable them to win the war against the insurgency.

The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Haruna Biu, pledged the union’s support to the counterinsurgency campaign and the peacebuilding process in the region.