The Nigerian Army has called for closer collaboration with journalists in the South East as it continues to tackle insecurity in the zone.
The General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, made the call yesterday when the newly elected executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State paid him a courtesy visit.
Lagbaja who said he was worried with the dissemination of fake news especially through the social media.
“With the pace of development in ICT, news has become readily available to the people and because of that is can be easily manipulated. So if you leave it to anybody who has a phone, there will be trouble.
“It is on that note that I plead our cooporation with the you. We will continue to work with you. Our doors are always open. We will continue to deepen this relationship.
“Always contact us if you have any news that has to do with us. If is not just enough to churn out news but to make sure that it is balanced. The military will need to work together to ensure that we get the right news to the people.
Earlier in his speech, the new Chairman of the state correspondents chapel, Lawrence Njoku, extolled the importance of the Nigerian Army in the operation and safety of journalists in the state, assuring that the chapel would ensure a harmonious relationship with the Army especially in combatting dissemination of fake news.
“The army is very important in anything that we do as journalists. Without security we cannot do our duties very well. The army also may not function properly with the right information being passed. We want this relationship and partnership to work.”
