The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has urged media practitioners conscious of conflict sensitive communication to avoid escalation of crisis, especially in reporting Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

The Executive Secretary of the CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd) made the call at a 3-day workshop on ‘Appraising the Role of Conflict Sensitive Communication in Addressing Violent Extremism’. The programme was organised by the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI) in Maiduguri and had in attendance media reporters domiciled in the North East as well as information officers from the Army, Air Force, DSS, Immigration, Civil Defence, Prisons, JTF, National Orientation Agency, among others.

In his remarks at the event, Anas said that the sensitivity of the crisis situation in the region demands utmost carefulness in handling information in order not to aggravate, conflagrate or degenerate the already bad situation.

“In view of the fragility of the situation, it is incumbent on reporters and other stakeholders in crisis communication to be conflict-sensitive by way of understanding the context of the conflict of each crisis situation.

“The aim of this workshop is to assist the target participants to be better equipped with a new understanding of the importance of conflict sensitive communication in managing security information at their disposal.

“It is expected that at the end of the programme, participants will go back to their bases, better equipped with the capacity to leverage on their new understanding of the importance of conflict sensitive communication in crisis communication to manage information at their disposal. For us at the Centre for Crisis Communication, we will continue to offer our professional services to PCNI and other agencies of government in order to ensure a better and more effective crisis communication in our country,” he concluded.

Also in his remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI), Tijjani Tumsah, admonished media reporters to prioritise national cohesion, peace and unity in their reportage. He stressed that the essence of the workshop was to assist those who manage or disseminate sensitive security information to understand the best ways possible in handling in order not to aggravate or escalate already fragile security situation in the North East. According to him, the training workshop was one of the PCNI’s high Impact programs for the restoration of media assets and building the capacity of the media in the North East.

Meanwhile, the Management of CCC led by the Executive Secretary, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj Gen Rogers Nicholas and also the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi.

At the Headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole, the team was received by Gen Nicholas who expressed delight at the visit and requested the Centre to help the military in changing the narrative about the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. According to him, people need to understand that it is not a fight between the military and the enemies; it is a fight for everybody against the enemies of the country. He decried the lack of commitment on the part of some agencies of government who have wittingly or unwittingly, abandoned the battle for the military. In his response, Air Commodore Anas (rtd) thanked General Nicholas for bringing a lot of pragmatism and dynamism to the operation to rid the North East of terrorism. “We are pleased with your pace and commitment. We are open to collaboration and partnership with the Op Lafia Dole and hopes to offer our assistance whenever it is needed.

At the Shehu’s palace, the Centre conveyed its appreciation to the Royal father for his courage and steadfastness in the face of unrelenting attacks on his Kingdom by the Boko Haram terrorists. Speaking on behalf of the Centre, Executive Secretary, Yusuf Anas, praised the Shehu for standing up against the rampaging terrorists for his people. On his part, the Shehu thanked the visiting team for finding time to pay him a courtesy visit and expressed his confidence in the ability of the present government to bring lasting peace to Borno State and the entire North East region devastated by the Boko Haram tragedy. (PRNigeria)

Update news