The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, on Thursday, said that Operation Atilogwu Udo kicking off today, Friday, November 1, 2019, is not directed at anyone but is aimed at curbing increasing crime rate in the society, especially during the Yuletide season and also sharpen the operations of men of the military.

Speaking at a two-day workshop for the South-East zone held at the headquarters of the 82 Division Auditorium, Enugu titled “Civil-Media-Military Relations”, the Chief of Army Staff who was represented by Chief of training and operations, Major general EO Udoh, called on the Nigerian media to properly inform and educate the public on the issues of national security interests without biases.

He said the information and education should be devoid of parochial interests, subjectivity and sensationalism especially as it concerns the exercises of Nigerian Army.

Buratai explained that the summit is put together to keep members of the public abreast of its activities, exercises and operations that are being routinely conducted in Nigeria and especially in the South east zone.

He added: “This summit is to ensure that the media will be able to inform the people correctly, especially on the operations of the military as it relates to exercise Atilogwu Udo 1.

“This exercise has been helping to curb kidnapping, abduction, robberies and other violent crimes, and allows Ndi Igbo to come home and celebrate in peace and even invest.

“As you know, our brothers abroad dreaded coming home for Christmas for fear of kidnap before now. The height of it was in 2015, when lots of people were kidnapped during the Yuletide. This informed the reason for exercise Egwu Eke.

“It is my hope that the media will continue to properly inform and educate the public on issues of National security interest without biases, devoid of parochial interests, subjectivity and sensation.”

The Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, while corroborating the claims, said the summit is intended to create a civil, media and military relationship and cause the media to orientate the people on what exercise Atilogwu Udo was about.

He said: “This exercise which starts tomorrow will check cattle rustling, kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes. It is not targeted at any individual, but to consolidate on the successes of exercise Python Dance one and two.”

In his speech, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented at the summit by the secretary to the State Government, Simon Otuanya, charged the media to work closely with the military in order to inform the people right.

He said: “The summit will create cordial relationship between the media, civilians and military, through the period of the exercise.

“Any misinformation, whether deliberately or by mistake can cause critical condition in the country. The media has a duty to be fair, objective and patriotic by eschewing undue bias as it concerns reporting activities of the military.”

Ugwuanyi further hailed the military for their help in securing lives and properties of the people, saying that Enugu ranks as the safest state in the country today because of the efforts of the military.

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