The Nigerian Army has expressed concern that most media houses in the country prefer to propagate sensitive reportage that scares and attracts negative attention rather than headlines geared towards celebrating the gallantry and efforts of its troops.
Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, (CCMA), of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, stated this yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, during his opening address presented at the 14th edition of social media influencers seminar organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs in conjunction with Security Affairs Ltd.
Kangye, who noted that such sensitive reportage instead gave credence to the activities of criminals as well as boost their morale and confidence to commit more crimes, said the social media has roles to play in enlightening the public against the propagation of fake news and enhancing peace and security in the country.
He explained that the seminar, which started in 2018 at Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, was one of the ways the Nigerian Army interacted with the civil populace in order to foster a harmonious and cordial civil-military relation.
The seminar, which had the theme: “The evolving role of the social media in support of the Nigerian Army Non-kinetic line of operations”, featured a paper presentation entitled: “Social Media Conspiracy Theories, Propaganda, and Fake News: Effects on Nigeria’s Peace and security” and “Social Media: A Psychological tool for successful Non-kinetic Operations”.
