Army Urges Objective Reporting of Military Activities

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has urged journalists to maintain objectivity in reporting military activities and verify information before publication.

Mahmuda made the call when the Chairman of the Oyo State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yinka Adeniran, led members of the chapel on a courtesy visit to the 2 Division Headquarters at Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.

In a post shared on Thursday, the GOC stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between the military and the media to promote accurate reporting and limit the spread of misinformation, disinformation and fake news.

He described journalists as key partners in keeping the public informed about military activities, noting that credible information was necessary for the public to properly understand military operations.

Mahmuda specifically urged journalists to verify information, particularly reports relating to military operations, before publishing them.

He also said the Army recognised the media’s role in disseminating information and expressed the Division’s willingness to deepen its engagement with journalists through continued collaboration and constructive professional relationships.

Adeniran, who spoke earlier, said the visit was intended to acknowledge the sacrifices and commitment of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the service of the country.

He commended personnel of 2 Division for their dedication to duty and said the Division had continued to carry out its responsibilities within its area of operation.

Adeniran also recalled the recent rescue of students in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the incident as a reminder of the importance of effective communication and cooperation between the military and the media.

He said the chapel was seeking to strengthen its relationship with the Division through regular professional engagements, training opportunities and better access to verified information on military activities.

According to him, closer cooperation would help journalists gain a better understanding of military operations and support accurate and responsible reporting while limiting the spread of misinformation and fake news.

Adeniran reaffirmed the chapel’s readiness to work with the Division to promote credible information and responsible journalism.