Insecurity: Service chiefs advocate solution-based journalism

The service chiefs yesterday appealed to the media to tow the path of solution-based journalism in the ongoing fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other criminalities ravaging the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and his colleagues, stated this during a meeting with editors of national dailies via zoom as part of activities to mark their 100 days in office.

Speaking on the role the media could play in ending terrorism and other security challenges, the service chiefs said the media had a vital role to play in resolving current Nigeria’s security challenges.

Irabor canvased solution-based journalism, noting that it is the only way the media could help the frontline troops.

He made the recommendation while taking stock of their achievements in the last one hundred days since their appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While appreciating the role being played by the media in informing the general public on the role of the armed forces in tackling different security challenges, he said good journalism is not about giving preference to security breaches.

“It is erroneous to say nothing has changed for good in the last 100 days since we took over,” Irabor said, while responding to some of the observations raised by the editors.

He added: “No doubt, we’re not happy that peace has not returned completely. No doubt, we’re not happy Nigerians are living in fear, but things would have been worse if not for the many interventions of the military.

“Top Boko Haram commanders have been killed; top bandits and top IPOB members have been eliminated.”

He said officers and men of the Armed Forces had been deployed to different parts of the country to stabilise the polity.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A.Z Gambo, said the military high command was working closely with other security agencies including the police and civil defence.

He said the ultimate goal was for the military to clear terrorists, bandits and other criminals, move forward and allow other security agencies to sustain internal civil authority.

The representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal RN Ekeh also harped on synergy among the Armed Forces and the media, saying several platforms, including the Super Tucano fighter jets, would soon arrive to complement the work of the troops.