Emergency Rule: Maku flays online media over inciting reports.

[FMINigeria]

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku has expressed displeasure with reports credited to the Premium Times and Sahara Reporters, which he says are deliberately targeted at undermining military strategy, demoralizing troops, or even causing incitement to mutiny in States under emergency rule.

While speaking on Friday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital at the 44th National Council on Information, Maku further described the reports as unacceptable and a display of utter lack of professionalism.

Mr Maku who also supervises the affairs of the Defence Ministry equally expressed displeasure with the reportage of some online news media sources which he said was counter-productive to the efficient and effective execution of the peace enforcement measures in the States under emergency rule.

"The Defence Headquarters has complained on several occasions about personnel losses due to inciting reports, mainly from Sahara Reporters and Premium Times, which clearly undermine military operations by terrorists who are emboldened, and setting the people against security forces in their campaigns in the North-East.  I would like, therefore, to admonish Sahara Reporters and Premium Times to refrain from their unprofessional conduct", the Minister cautioned.

Maku also said he was seriously disappointed over the intense politicization of last week's operations by the State Security operatives against a terror cell in Abuja.  He said, "Following the successful operation, media reports were instigated against the security agencies, including open campaign on the floor of the National Assembly.  This is very unfortunate given the impressive work done by security agencies to secure our major cities so far.  The horrific attacks in Kenya demonstrate the dangers we all face.  We must keep politics out of the war on terror.  It is very discouraging for our security agencies when they are maligned by those they seek to protect whenever to take pre-emptive measures to secure the nation.

"The network employed by terror groups to gather information, plan and carry out attacks is amazing and includes recruiting the most unlikely agents in the most unlikely places. Politicians' lack of cooperation with security agencies was one of the key reasons why terrorism grew out of control in the North East and spread to other parts of the North.  Every time security agencies took action, politicians continued to condemn them, and raised voices against security operations.  We are all now paying dearly for it in huge losses in lives, property and retarded development in the affected states", he pointed out.

Maku however, praised Council Members for promptly following through with the implementation of the resolutions of the Extra-ordinary National Council Meeting held in July, 2011 in Abuja.

"No doubt, the various steps that we all set in motion to accelerate the peace communication strategy arrived at on that occasion helped in no small measure to curtail the spread of terrorism to all parts of the federation.  In particular, it also helped nip in the bud the ideology of hate being preached by Boko Haram, which had hoped to set Christians against Muslims, and various ethnic groups one against another.

"Regrettably, we cannot proclaim that we are out of the woods yet in our collective fight against terror.  Indeed, on account of the audacity of the Boko Haram terrorists, and the growing spectre of insecurity, President Jonathan imposed a state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.  Four months into the emergency rule, the security agencies have recorded huge and visible gains."

The Information Minister revealed further that, "To a large extent, the Boko Haram terrorists have been routed in the major cities and towns in the three affected states, where normal business and social activities have also picked up considerably.  There are however, lingering challenges of pockets of terrorists engaged in hit-and-run attacks in remote locations, especially in Borno, where the military and other security forces have flushed them out of the Gwoza hills, Sambisa forests and other camps", Maku added.

On his Ministry's part, the Minister informed that "we have collaborated exceedingly well with the Defence and Security Forces in managing information relating to the peace enforcement measures, while the state of emergency lasts.  I would also like to commend the States' Ministries of Information in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, which have keyed into our overall programme of strategic information management against terrorism.

Despite this effort, Maku said, a lot still remains to be done.  "While the States currently under emergency rule need to reinforce their positive messages, to win hearts and minds, the rest of the country cannot be complacent.  As reported in the media, some suspected terrorists have been arrested in places as far south as Ogun and Lagos States.

"We must therefore, use our public media organs to sustain the security awareness campaigns throughout the states of the federation, especially on terrorism. The free and unrestrained flow of criminals and arms across our borders require sustained media campaign to sensitize our border communities to cooperate with immigration and security forces to check these. Most terrorists operating the country are foreign nationals.

"Besides, there is the equally worrisome incidence of kidnapping, which is rampant in some states, especially in the south.  We should rise to the challenge by designing suitable measures to encourage citizens' action in warding off kidnappers, or otherwise furnishing information that will be most useful to the security agencies", the Information Minister, added.

Source: Emergency Rule: Maku flays online media over inciting reports.
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria