The Coalition on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria (CCGRN) has frowned against the negative reportage of Nigeria by international news wires and networks, saying that their reportage strengthens the activities of terrorists in clear violation of human rights and citizens wellbeing in the north eastern part of Nigeria.

Addressing the world press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Maxwell Gowon Esq. stressed further that the coalition has uncovered plots by foreign agents to thwart the country’s war against insurgency, through the use of fictitious reports in the media to undermine Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists group.

Further accusing some of the media outfits guilty of this action, particularly Reuters and AFP, Maxwell said the media in question project the activities of Boko Haram terrorists that are false and far from the truth for hidden agenda.

According to him, “Reuters is one of the news agencies aiming at destabiliing Nigeria through false, malicious, unsubstantiated and fabricated pieces of news concerning the efforts of the Nigerian Military in engaging Boko Haram Terrorists in some parts of the North East as plans are in place to release news stories that pain the Nigerian military.”

He maintained that the international media have been churning out negative reports, capable of thwarting Nigeria’s military war against insurgency.

Gowon said the news agency has resolute on reporting Nigeria into failure by propping up Boko Haram as a parallel state leaves more to be imagined despite the overwhelming evidence that Boko Haram is a global terrorist organisation.

The statement said: “It is instructive to state that Reuters through their actions further enforces the French connection in the sustenance of the Boko Haram conflict through its former colonies in Africa (Niger, Chad, and Mali), and to see that the efforts of the Nigerian military are discredited using all means possible.

“While the Coalition on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria frowns at such unprofessional display by a supposedly objective news medium such as Reuters, it also suffices to state that there is a bigger script the Reuters is acting out.

“It is also curious that Reuters can publish fiction as fact when comments on troops’ capability would be anathema to it when discussing the US or UK military.

“A logical explanation for such irresponsible conduct is that Reuters places itself as that news platform that is committed to advancing the cause of the imperial empire it serves using any means possible ( hook or crook).

“CCGRN is aware that Nigeria’s Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali told Reuters last month that ‘the country has been stable for the past three years’, and this much can be easily verified. But again, Reuters choose to play the devil’s advocate by painting a picture of gloom and doom, of deserting troops and thousands killed – yet the country still has a standing military. How curious.

“The case of Gudumbali is an example of the mischief that Reuters has continued to perpetuate with fanfare. While it’s stated that Gudumbali is under the firm control of Boko Haram terrorists, the same Gudumbali is where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited some days ago to boost the morale of the troops stationed there. One then wonders if it a possibility or a strange coincidence, and or a figment of the imagination of Reuters.

“Such rash and unfounded reportage imply that there is a tendency for members of the unsuspecting public to believe their storyline (even though entirely false) to the detriment of Nigeria.”

CCGRN however challenged Reuters on a tour of the North East Nigeria with its reporters, photojournalists, and editors so they can have a better insight into the great sacrifice the Nigeria Army has put in to ensure that peace returns and, by extension, the modest achievements of the Nigeria Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai in keeping Boko Haram terrorist in check.

•National Coordinator, CCGRN, Maxwell Gowon (middle) addressing world preess conference in Abuja.

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