Oriire: Army Converts Oyo National Park To Training Ground

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj-General Auwalu Mahmuda, on Wednesday, disclosed that the military had taken over the old Oyo National Park, reputed to harbour criminal elements as a training ground.

Mahmuda, while playing host to the executives and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, who paid a courtesy visit on him at the Division’s Headquarters in Odogbo, Ibadan, said the 2 Division was given the order to use the Park as a training ground by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shuaibu.

According to him, the order came after the rescue of the victims of the Oriire kidnapping, stating that by taking it over, the Park has become a no-go area for kidnappers and other men of the underworld using the large forest for the base of their nefarious activities.

He said, “On the order of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shuaibu, the 2 Division has taken over the entire stretch of the Old Oyo National Park as a training site in order to prevent the repeat of the Oriire kidnap saga. With the 2 Division fully utilising the Park, it will be a herculean task for men of the underworld to use it as their hideout.’’

Mahmuda urged journalists to always verify information with the military before making it public, warning that unverified information can cause irreparable harm.

He reassured the media that the Nigerian Army views them as vital partners in national development, highlighting the dangerous situations journalists face to provide accurate information to the public.

The GOC promised the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel military support in areas such as training and medical outreach, especially ahead of their upcoming Press Week.

The GOC maintained that misinformation and fake news can only be reduced or eliminated when the media work together with the military and verify the information they receive before publishing or broadcasting it.

“I will appeal to you to avoid publishing information without first confirming its exact and true nature with the military. Sometimes, when unverified information is released, it can cause more harm than the information it was intended to address,” he said.

Mahmuda lamented that some journalists failed to verify information at their disposal before publishing it, adding that misinformation spread faster than expected and caused irreparable damage.

“I want to reassure you that the Nigerian Army sees journalists as partners, but they are also expected to play their part in demonstrating clearly that they are partners of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Mahmuda, however, commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ for highlighting the Division’s activities and contributions to national development.

“We are all Nigerians, irrespective of the fact that some of us wear uniforms. I believe that, whatever we are doing, we are all working towards the success and development of this country,” he said.

The GOC appealed for stronger collaboration to better enlighten the public about the efforts of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in tackling insecurity in the country.

“I have seen journalists go to places where other civilians dare not set foot. They put themselves in difficult and dangerous situations simply to obtain accurate information that can be shared with the public,” he said.

The Chairman of the chapel, Mr Yinka Adeniran, commended the 2 Division for its relentless efforts in maintaining security, specifically highlighting the successful rescue of the Oriire kidnap victims.

He then appealed to the Division for support for the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week, including lectures and health outreach for members, among other areas.