The Director, Training and Operations in the Nigerian Army, Major General Enobong Udoh, urges the media professionals in Nigeria to checkmate the publication of fakes news in the country as this tends to limit their operations and at the same time creates a negative impression in the minds of the public. This address was made in a summit that took place at Headquarters 82 Division Auditorium, Enugu State.
With the theme “Galvanizing Citizens Support for the Military Operations in Nigeria through the Media”, the 2-days Civil-Media-Military Relations Summit for the South East zone is aimed at briefing the media and civil populace on the forthcoming Military exercise tagged “Atilogwu Udo 1” which will take place in the five South Eastern states and Cross River.
In the words of Major General Udoh:
Please I beg you people of the Nigerian Media, have a rethink, help us to do our work professionally. Help us to do our work that we are doing for you and for Nigeria our great country. Help us and stop limiting us through your publications.
He believes that the entire civil population of Nigeria relies on the news published by the media professionals and any misleading or fake news creates a wrong impression to the mind of the people and thereby tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army.
Based on the information gathered during the summit through paper presentations and discussions, the Atilogwu Udo 1 is an operation meant to combat all forms of criminality within the South Eastern states and Cross River; which includes kidnapping, armed robbery, community clashes and more.
He further urges the media to convey this same information and erase the former assertions that some citizens might have, saying the exercise is to the detriment of the South Eastern states and Cross River.
Present at the summit apart from top Military Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are:
- Heads of Traditional Council
- Head of Security and Paramilitary Agencies in Enugu State
- HRH. Igwe Odezunigbo II of Nike
- Chief Chika Okpala (MON, MFR)
- Chief Pete Edochie (MON)
- Members of the Academia
- Prof. Sunny Udeze/Dr. Ifeanyi Didiugwu (Guest Lecturer)
- Chairmen of NUJ and Correspondence Chapel from Abia, Anambara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Cross River
The Atilogwu Udo 1 (literally meaning Dance of Peace) exercise will commence from November 1, 2019 in all the five South Eastern states and Cross River, and like the Nigerian Army has directly said, the operations are for the betterment of the citizens of the affected states.
