The Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has accused online news portal Sahara Reporters of publishing tissues of imaginations against the Nigeria military in her bid to discredit efforts to end insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country.
The group reacting to a publication by SaharaRrporters that 10 soldiers attached to 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa in Borno State were killed in an ambush by insurgents on Saturday, said the report was not only a figment of imagination a reveals the medium desperation for negativity.
A statement signed by Comr. Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu, conveners of the CSOs regretted that the news portal has made it a duty to report imaginary casualties on the part of the military even when there is none just to satisfy its paymasters.
“It is unfortunate that SaharaReporters has made it a point to report imaginary issues at the war theatre. We have noted that when the military suffers casualties, they are honourable to make known. However, SaharaReporters has made it a duty to not only report such incidence but celebrate it with a view to making a mockery of the military.
“Regrettably, the online news portal is gradually moving away from sensational reports against the military to blatant lies all in a bid to satisfy its pay masters. Just when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was reported to have visited Wounded Soldiers in Action (WIA) in Kaduna, a visit that elicited a lot of goodwill from both the military and the public, SaharaReporters choose to go to press with blatant lies to erode the good will and possibly dampened the moral of the troops.
“The COAS during the visit expressed delight to be among the WIAs, said their efforts in securing the nation will never go unrewarded, commending their true spirit of patriotism and professionalism. This is exactly what is expected of the leadership of the army”, the CSOs stated.
They further urged Nigeria not to relent in supporting the nation’s troops to enable them succeed in winning the war against insurgency, banditry and other forms insecurity in the country.
In the same vein, the CSOs urged the military not to be weary of the antics of SaharaReporters and its cohorts but remain resolute in defending the territorial integrity of the country.
The group also aligned with the view of Chief of Army Staff that Nigeria is safer and more secured at the moment than it was in 2014 warning that attempts at discrediting the military if allowed to prevail could plunge the nation in to more difficult times.
