In an effort towards fostering unity and breaching the communication gap between Journalists, Bloggers and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Army Headquarters have been engaging the civilian populace in various ways to ensure a peaceful society.

The Nigeria Army in partnership with Security Affairs has been organizing a series of seminars on social media influencers since 2018. So far such fora had taken place in Port Harcourt, Maiduguri,  Owerri, Ibadan, Lagos, Jos, Kano, Akure, Sokoto, Osogbo, Makurdi, Asaba, Jalingo, Uyo, Kaduna, Enugu, and Yola.

Speaking at the 17th edition of the seminar in Yola, the Adamawa state capital with a theme: “Imperatives of the non-kinetic line of operations in Asymmetric Warfare” the Chief Military Civil Affairs Maj. Gen MG Kangye said the military has recorded success in the fight against terrorists in the North East, thousands of them surrendered and profiled.

“These successes were underreported by the media. Such an attitude affects productivity of the Nigerian Army, I’m optimistic that the narrative would change as the Army engages in building all relationships.

“Let’s form a common front in strengthening the relationship between the Armed Forces and the civilians so as to make the country conducive and secure for developmental activities to thrive.

“Military is members of the society and any military officer that goes astray while performing his duty will be sanctioned by applying relevant sections of the Armed Forces” he said.

General Kangye solicited the continuous support of civilians for a well-coordinated, deepened, and sustained Military-Civil Relation, and assured Nigerians the Nigeria Army remained firm in the discharge of duty of protecting territorial integrity of Nigeria.

In a paper presentation on “Imperatives of Influence Operations in the Conduct of Asymmetric Warfare” the Director Psychological Warfare, defence Headquarters Maj. General EAP Undiadeye noted that “fake news” is the root cause of genocide in Rwanda as in which innocent Hutu were killed by the Tutsi who constitute the majority in the land.

“Media should always avail the military with facts at their disposal which will go a long way in curtailing fake news circulating in the social media as most of teeming youths in the country relied solely on news emanating from social media not mindful about the conventional media.

“Social media usage especially by a certain careless group of bloggers is a frightening and unhealthy dimension that requires collective efforts by all to address,” he said.

General EAP Undiadeye noted that some of the factors militating against social media include firsthand information syndrome and lack of fact cross-checking among others and urged Journalists to Google check so as to identify fake news.

Also his presentation on “Influence Operations for Perception Management Imperatives in Nigerian Army Non-kinetic Engagements” Dr. Lanre Adebayo reminded the participants to always have the interest of the country at heart before any consideration by projecting the country’s image in good light.

“Kuwait was invaded about twenty years ago by the then United States President George Bush, and supported by the then Prime Minister of Britain Mr. Tony Blair on the ground that Kuwait possesses a nuclear weapon, but after the invasion, it was discovered that the story of possessing nuclear weapon is untrue as revealed by a journalist who was later found dead, this indicates that beyond the nuclear weapons the two NATO Member countries have something different in mind for invading Kuwait,” he added.

Adebayo, a veteran Journalist advised journalists and other media workers to broadcast their news and programmes in line with the tenet of their profession.

“Journalism profession is being maligned by some nonprofessional practitioners, it is the right time to rescue and restore dignity and its sanctity.

“Military should also deploy effective and sustained influence operations to engage the public about the institution as part of long term policy towards maintaining peace, progress, and security of Nigeria,” he said.

In his remark,  Amb. Austin Peacemaker, Executive Director of Security Affairs said the seminar was to bridge the gap between the Nigerian Army and the civil populace.

“We came up with this initiative to ensure that there is continuous dialogue in a good democracy, we believe if we talk, engage and rub minds we won’t fight nor clash. And we felt the military to is not exempt.

“While they are willing to tell us their story or about the Nigerian Army we civilians also rub minds with them, discuss our concerns while also promising to be patriotic and fair to them in supporting and appreciating our Nation’s Army.

“We believe #theNigerianArmyisOurArmy and we have no other as a country, so no matter what,” he said.

Peacemaker who is also an ECOWAS Youth Ambassador stated that the seminar apart from educating will serve as a networking platform, and urged Nigerians to continue defending the country.