The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Brigadier General Abdulwahab Eyitayo
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Nigeria Army High Command has warned the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the Sambisa Forest to shun violence and voluntarily surrender their weapons to the nearest security agencies as the war has come to an end with the renewed efforts and commitments of the restrategized operations of the new Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai.
It also assured the repentant Insurgents that nobody would kill nor torture them, rather they would be reradicalized, rehabiliated, trained on various skills acquisition and empowered with working tools and kits to become self reliant before rejoining their families and relations .
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Brigadier General Abdulwahab Eyitayo stated this on Sunday in his remark at a luncheon organized by the NA, 7 Division Headquarters for Borno State Members of the NUJ held at the Wolf Officers Mess GRA Maiduguri.
The GOC solicited for more synergy, cooperation and support from the media in the coverage of the counter insurgency fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.
He, however, said that the luncheon was organized purposely to express appreciation and acknowledge the cordial working relationship between the media and the military as well as to strengthen the existing working relationship between the press and the Nigerian Army in the Division.
The GOC also said that he was hopeful that the interaction between the media and the military would further cement the synergy, cooperation and positive coverage of the military assignments while praying for wider scope of media-military relations.
Earlier, the NA Division Headquarters Deputy Director of Army Public Relations (DDAPR), Colonel Ado Isa, said the luncheon and interactive session organized by the GOC was to meet the media and express appreciation to the journalists for their roles and change in narrative of the coverage of the counter Insurgency fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.
He added that the meeting was aimed at appreciating the robust support and synergy existing between the media and Military as well consolidate on the establsihed relationship.
In their goodwill messages, the Chairperson, Borno State NAWOJ, Hajiya Hadiza Bukar commended the GOC for organizing the interactive session and luncheon while the Chairman, Borno State Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ Maiduguri, Alhaji Haruna Dauda Biu appreciated the organizers of the luncheon and reassured the commitment and professional reportage of military assignments.
Also, The Borno State NUJ Chairman, Malam Bulama Talba represented by the State Secretary, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed the profound gratitude and appreciation to the GOC for his gesture and promised that the Borno journalists are ever ready to give the military operations adequate and objectives reportage .
He reminded the GOC that professionalism remained the ultimate goal of the journalists and the establsihed working relationship would further be strengthened in the interest of the nation. Hence, journalists are also national stakeholders in the fight against insurgency and committed to give objective and positive coverage of the military operations.
Highlights of the occasion include group photographs, presentation of souvenir to the state council of the NUJ by the GOC and lunch.
