ABDULLAHI ISAH, Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army has organized a three-day workshop to sensitize its Directors of Army Public Relations (DAPRs) on effective information management in its war against insurgency in the North-east.
While declaring the occasion open, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai said that for the Nigerian Army to be proficient in its duties, the issue of training remains a key requirement towards attainment of the vision of the Nigerian Army.
General Buratai who was represented by the Theatre Commander, Major General Yushau Abubakar said “the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies have reached a very important stage in the war against terrorists, having contended their operations to desperate, albeit murderous suicide acts and attacks on soft targets with a few futile attempts to portray themselves as coherent face.
“We will continue to engage them in fierce battle and mop them up until they are completely wiped out. We are determined to achieve this within the time frame given by Mr. President”, the COAS stated.
The COAS used the occasion to call on citizens of the country, particularly journalists and media practitioners to partner with the Nigerian Army and the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) in the collective effort to bring to an end the menace of Boko Haram insurgency.
In his keynote address, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state said “our security personnel have displayed professionalism, gallantry and heroism in their assignment including paying the supreme price for their fatherland and I salute their courage and sympathized with all those that lost their loved ones in a bid to restore peace to their fatherland”.
The governor represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa said ‘information is a vital part of the operations of the Army in most countries of the world, because it is through it that government can asses it performances as well as predicting future events.’
“Today information is accepted as an important factor in the sustained development of any society, because it reduces uncertainty and enhances awareness of possible actions use in solving problem. On the contrary, when information is inaccurate, inaccessible or incomplete, countries may suffer financial lose, low productivity and numerous security challenges”, Shettima said.
