Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) against misleading the public on the military’s modus operandi especially its engagement in Plateau State.
The military high command in a statement threatened legal action against civil society organisations questioning its attempts at restoring peace across the country.
The acting director of defence information Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau called on HURIWA to always seek credible information on issues especially as it concerns national security before approaching the media.
Gusau was reacting to a report published by a national daily not LEADERSHIP on 4 February 2024, credited to HURIWA faulting the formation of a Fact-Finding Team tasked to elicit practical workable solutions to the prolonged crisis in some parts of Nigeria, Plateau State inclusive.
He said the Fact-Finding Team headed by an experienced retired senior military officer was constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, following the deployment of military hard wares including highly trained intelligence personnel and special forces to troubled areas of the state to ensure perpetrators of dastardly attacks are brought to justice.
He reiterated that the team was constituted as part of the non-kinetic approach of the DHQ in resolving the situation, adding that the team’s responsibility spreads across troubled areas in the country and not limited to Plateau State alone.
He added, consequent upon this, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja visited Plateau State on January 27, 2024 and gave the troops specific orders to deal decisively with those fermenting troubles leading to loss of lives and properties.
The director said numerous intelligence-driven operations have been conducted leading to the arrest of key suspects who are currently undergoing interrogation.
“The DHQ calls on HURIWA being one of the respected human rights groups to cultivate the habit of seeking credible information on issues especially as it concerns National Security before approaching the media. It is evident the group was ill-informed and could not spend time researching on efforts the military had made to restore normalcy in troubled areas of the country.
“The DHQ would have naturally overlooked the ignorance of HURIWA on this matter, but finds it necessary to educate civil society organisations on the responsible use of the media not to disseminate falsehoods and create tension where none exists. We, therefore, advise HURIWA to henceforth be passionate to seek adequate information on issues of national importance and stop misleading the public deliberately. The DHQ would take strong legal action should such a mistake repeat itself,” he said.
He thanked Nigerians for their support to the troops in the field who are making unquantifiable sacrifices to ensure peace in our nation.
