Photo by ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto and Commander North West Joint Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Michael Mutkut has called on journalists in Sokoto to sustain their cooperation with security agencies towards ending banditry, insurgency and other forms of crimes in the region.
General Mutkut, who made the appeal Monday when the leadership of the State’s Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit, admonished media executives to understand that the country belongs to all of its citizens, hence the need to do all within their reach to ensure a peaceful nation.
While admonishing journalists to ensure that they always balance their reports, to avoid misleading the people, the GOC reassured that their doors are open for confirmation of any report at all times.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us and not to the military alone. And if as journalists, you refuse to report accurately, then you are helping the bad eggs to survive.
“We appreciate when journalists give fair reportage by hearing from all sides as purveyors of the fake reports are always doing their reports without balance,” he said.
The GOC further assured that they will always continue to get across to journalists since they are the ones to tell the world what the security agencies are doing to restore peace and security to every part of the country.
Speaking earlier, the State NUJ Council chairman, Dalhatu Abdullahi Safel Magori thanked the GOC and the entire division for the cordial relationship that exists between them and working journalists in Sokoto.
Dalhatu assured that his members, like those of other states chapters of the Union, are very ready to work closely with the security agencies, including the Nigerian Army for the security of Nigeria and the national interest.
The state NUJ chairman commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Taoreek Lagbaja for his vision towards enhancing civil military relationship.
The NUJ chairman also registered the appreciation of NTA to the 8 Div for deploying it’s fire fighting vehicles and men to help put out the inferno which engulfed their office recently.
He also appreciated the security agencies for their continued victories over enemies of the country, adding that if the offensives taken to bandits and insurgents’ hideouts are sustained, the nation, in no distant time, will overcome the challenges of insecurity.
