Nigerian Media must, as a matter of necessity, continue to emphasise and celebrate the many successes and victories of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) while placing less emphasis on its imperfections.

NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, made this appeal in an article entitled ‘Role of the Nigerian Media In Counter Insurgency Operations: NAF Expectations’. He said that by so doing, the media “would not only encourage the fighting troops whose many sacrifices on a daily basis are largely unknown but also demoralise the BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists) and others who are sworn adversaries of Nigeria.”

While saying that the NAF, like every other organisation, cannot and does not lay claims to perfection, Adesanya noted that “it is considered important to note that the focus of all Nigerians, irrespective of inclination, should always be the promotion of our national interests.”

“Members of the NAF strive for perfection in the course of their duties but as human beings, that aspiration would always be work in progress,” he said.

Continuing, Adesanya acknowledged that the media plays a vital role in military campaigns, especially air operations, adding that the media and the NAF, both as stakeholders in national development, are partners.

He equally charged media practitioners to make use of the various available platforms to interact with the NAF towards ensuring that Nigerians are always deservedly informed and not misinformed.

Commenting on the current leadership of NAF, Adesanya noted that “it constantly strives to promote transparency and has therefore directed that all avenues be made open for media practitioners to clarify news about the NAF before disseminating.”

He added: “In the past few years, the major preoccupation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, including the NAF, has been the battle against insurgency in the Northeast as well as combating other forms of criminalities in the country.

“It is gladdening to note that the ability of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) to operate freely has now been seriously degraded.”

“The NAF has, in the past few months, intensified Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the Northeast Region to ensure that the BHTs do not regroup to become a formidable force again,” Adesanya added.

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