The Coalition of Civil Society Groups against terrorism in Nigeria has expressed its worry over what it termed the reactionary activities of some media organisations, particular some online newspapers and some self-styled social media commentators, in their manner of reportage on the current activities of the Boko Haram sect, by promoting their recent renewed attacks in the North Eastern part of the country, while deliberately denigrating the Nigerian military, particularly the Nigerian Army and it’s leadership in this false representation of “some attack on military formations and some isolated attacks on soft targets by the Boko Haram terrorist group.”
The group in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos and jointly signed by Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji and John Atani, convener and secretary respectively, expressed worry over what the group called undue patronage being given to the Boko Haram, by these online media and bloggers, saying that such publicity emboldens the terrorists and make them extremely proactive in their deadly operations, which has claimed lives of several Nigerians.
The group also demanded for the arrest of a blogger a controversial journalist known for having access to the leadership of the insurgent Boko Haram group, accusing him, of using his position as the “Unofficial spokesman of the Boko Haram sect” to distract the war against insurgency, by releasing not only false informations about the recent attack being perpetrated by the Boko Haram, but also exposing vital information regarding military formations and operations, which is increasingly endangering the lives of troops and other security agencies, battling the insurgents, in the Northeastern part of the country.
The group described the blogger as a rumour peddler, saboteur and blackmailer whose activities are laced with the ulterior motives, aimed at distracting the war against the insurgency.
“A close look at his activities clearly shows that he is always out to tarnish the image of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Military, while also celebrating the isolated cases of Boko Haram attacks on our gallant troops, with the sole aim of emboldening these terrorists, whose major tools have been propaganda and deceit, often disseminated to the public by Ahmed Salkida.”
“There is no doubt that Salkida has links to Abubakar Shekau and we call on the Federal Government to invoke the relevant laws of the land, most especially the Terrorist Prevention Act 2011(as amended) in arresting and prosecuting Salkida,” the statement said.
‘‘As patriotic Nigerians, we salute the professionalism of majority of practitioners in the media industry today, even though we are deeply worried and wish to ask other media operatives to understand the current situation and its implications not only on our national security, but also on the lives of the teeming millions of our people in the region, and support the Nigerian military, to defeat these insurgents, which the military has been doing their best, to bring to an end.
“There is no doubt that over time, these terrorists have been extremely proactive with the use of information dissemination. This is why we are worried about the type of publicity, they are being given because that is what keeps them going. We are of the view, that by the time these criminal elements are denied such publicity they are enjoying in the media, they will lose strength.”
The group also said Nigerians need to be aware, of how information could be disseminated, taking cognizance of the national security interest and the interest of our gallant men and women, fighting day and night, in the war front. While calling on the media practitioners to be patriotic in reporting terrorism, the group also urged the media mostly the online media practitioners to crosscheck their facts before going to the press.
*The war between Igbo and Yoruba* . If you don’t have the history of your people, it results to self destruction. And so you can’t talk of other tribes. Yorubas started wearing shirts after the civil war. Every Igboman was called oyibo because of their atire #fact ask your grand parents this. Most yorubas saw Lagos as the only developed place. Most of them thought that Eastern region was a bush area and never saw the place as wrought living. Yoruba people prefer going to the North than East ( then became treacherous, saying that the Igbo is not accommodating. Also the politics of hate which Obafemi Awolowo used in integrating Yoruba to always be on his side brought ethinical politics #fact. Did you know that the leader of NCNC was a Yoruba while Zik was his secretary?, also ask your grand parents. Did you know that Nnamdi Azikiwe contested election in the Western house of Assembly and won( Yoruba land)?. Pls I don’t mean to insult you but to take you back ages. The politics of Awolowo group thought your people that Igbos were wicked is just to create division for his selfish interest. Without any ulterior motives. Igbo “`welcome investors“ all over the world. Come 2019 is either referendum or no election to clear our stand on the expired British almagamation.
But before now, same group wanted the media to support war against gej using bokoharam as a tool
*The war between Igbo and Yoruba* . If you don’t have the history of your people, it results to self destruction. And so you can’t talk of other tribes. Yorubas started wearing shirts after the civil war. Every Igboman was called oyibo because of their atire #fact ask your grand parents this. Most yorubas saw Lagos as the only developed place. Most of them thought that Eastern region was a bush area and never saw the place as wrought living. Yoruba people prefer going to the North than East ( then became treacherous, saying that the Igbo is not accommodating. Also the politics of hate which Obafemi Awolowo used in integrating Yoruba to always be on his side brought ethinical politics #fact. Did you know that the leader of NCNC was a Yoruba while Zik was his secretary?, also ask your grand parents. Did you know that Nnamdi Azikiwe contested election in the Western house of Assembly and won( Yoruba land)?. Pls I don’t mean to insult you but to take you back ages. The politics of Awolowo group thought your people that Igbos were wicked is just to create division for his selfish interest. Without any ulterior motives. Igbo “`welcome investors“ all over the world. Come 2019 is either referendum or no election to clear our stand on the expired British almagamation.