By PALANG KASMI
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Chris Musa, has called for a more cordial relationship between the military and the people.
He made the call recently at Crest Hotel, during a one day national convention and retreat organised by the Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF), on civil society/ military partnership in mitigating crisis in North Central Nigeria
Represented by Brig. Gen Michel Agi, the CDS said in order to address the security challenges bedeviling the country, his office supports and prioritises the training and retaining of journalists and other forms of engagements with stakeholders to mitigate crisis in the country, end terrorism and banditry.
He promised to address issues raised by the MBJF especially on tackling the humanitarian crisis, and suffering of communities in the middle belt region who are affected by attacks and killings that have affected their livelihoods.
The CDS equally assured of addressing the desires of communities as well as ensuring that a better civil-military relationship is built.
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb. Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of information and Culture, Mr. Aliyu Tsoho Samuel, commended organisers of the forum for putting up a summit to draw attention on how some of Nigeria’s security issues can be addressed.
Governor Mutfwang lamented the level of insecurity affecting parts of the country especially the middle belt zone, and Plateau State which has been witnessing series of unprovoked killings and attacks in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and other parts of the state. He disclosed that the priority of his administration is to relocate affected communities back to their ancestral homes.
Mutfwang used the forum to advocate for more peace initiatives that will help in dispelling misinformation, and cementing cordial relationships, even as he called for collective efforts by stakeholders to create a peaceful society.
Presenting a paper tagged “Effects of fake news and social media in the escalation of crisis in the Middle Belt”, a veteran journalist and former General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Corporation, Nde Jonathan Ishaku said while the social media is a gain, it has also posed harm especially during crisis with narratives taking religious, ethnic, dimensions which tend to aggravate feelings and tensions.
According to him: “All you see when you turn to social media is news of some dimension of hatred. Therefore it becomes a catalyst for violence”
The paper recalled how the 2001 crisis, and Dogo Nahawa killings in Plateau State was marred by fake news, misinformation, disinformation and toxic content on social media.
The paper also called on people to beware of toxic social media content, stressing that ‘Deep fake’ is the most dangerous form of fake news affecting governments, individuals, organisations to create false narratives and mislead the public on a large scale. It also has the tendency to create social unrest.
Ishaku advised that the only way to address fake news and its effects on the crisis in Nigeria and the Middle Belt is literacy, good user role through verification of information, and not reposting information that is not credible and factual to other users or platforms.
Earlier in a keynote address on civic military partnership, presented by Prof. Sampson Terwese from the National Defence College, Abuja, he tasked the military to strengthen the relationship it has with the people and ensure that its civic units are strong in carrying out such engagements.
Terwese said in carrying out effective service delivery and tackling security challenges, the military needs the civilian population and local people who know the historical background of communities, and will be able to assist them with useful information during security breaches. He also tasked the military to have a good relationship with Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) and collaborate with them to address issues of conflict and security.
“Many deliverables that the civilian population can benefit from in working with the military is getting quick response. And if the people collaborate with the military and stop seeing them as state power, both of them stand to benefit” Terwese added.
Delegates representing Benue, Southern Kaduna, and Nassarawa, gave horrific reports of how herder killings have affected their communities, leading to loss of lives, properties, food, and psychological trauma in the villages ransacked by the killers.
