Foremost public security advocacy group, Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA) has expressed outrage over the ‘malicious and unsubstantiated allegations’ leveled against the Nigerian military by Reuters International.
In a statement signed by the group’s North East Coordinator, Mallam Mohammed Sirajo Ibrahim, CISA berated the international news agency for the false claims it made against the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Reuters, the British based international news agency, had in its recent report alleged that the Nigeria’s military had since 2013 run a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme in the North East terminating at least 12, 000 pregnancies among women and girls. It further claimed that many children were shot, poisoned, suffocated or run down by vehicles in army-led operations.
But CISA in its statement titled, Reuters Malicious Report Against Nigerian Military Stands Condemned’, said it was appalled that a supposed international news agency like Reuters will go to such ludicrous extent of engaging in ‘voodoo journalism’ in which hack-writers are deployed to carryout hatchet jobs aimed at destroying the reputation of their targets.
“The salacious lies contained in that concoction expectedly drew widespread condemnation of the news agency, especially by peoples and organisations who are conversant with the integrity and professional standings of the Nigerian military”.
“As a news organization that lays claims to records of integrity and excellence, how did Reuters acquiesce to the complicity in orchestrating a clear hatchet job aimed at ‘clipping the wings’ of the Nigerian military for daring to live up to its statutory obligation of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria?”
“In any case, CISA is not entirely surprised that Reuters could engage in such dark journalism. The said report follows in the well-known pattern of the Western press in subjecting the people, institutions and governments in Africa to shame and ridicule. The packaged mercenary report by Reuters is therefore one of those effort to blackmail and run down Nigeria’s military. Their consistent negative profiling and demonization of Nigerian Armed Forces depicts more of a deliberate and well-orchestrated plan to discredit the country for the purpose that is yet to unravel”.
“We are happy and indeed confident that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not be deterred in the fight to rid the country of terrorists and criminals in the country despite the shenanigans and distractions like such unfounded reports”, the statement continued while stating that
the thousands of women and children the journalists saw and interacted with in Borno State, a fortnight ago, effectively buried the lies and mendacity contained in that Reuters story.
CISA applauded the Defence Headquarters for its prompt response to the “wicked allegation” and gave kudos to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor and the Service Chiefs for their focused leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Details of the statement reads:
Citizens’ Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA) condemns in the strongest term possible, the incredibly wicked story concocted and published recently by Reuters to malign the integrity and reputation of Nigerian military.
In the mendacious report that was clearly a figment of the author’s deleterious imagination, the Nigerian military was undeservedly tarred with the odious brush and painted in a dingy colour that does not match its track record of excellence and of integrity, by the news agency.
According to the fictitious report, Reuters alleged that the Nigeria’s military had since 2013 run a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme in the North East terminating at least 12, 000 pregnancies among women and girls. It further claimed that many children were shot, poisoned, suffocated or run down by vehicles in army-led operations.
The salacious lies contained in that concoction expectedly drew widespread condemnation of the news agency, especially by peoples and organisations who are conversant with the integrity and professional standings of the Nigerian military.
CISA is indeed appalled that a supposed international news agency like Reuters will go to such ludicrous extent of engaging in ‘voodoo journalism’ in which hack-writers are deployed to carryout hatchet jobs aimed at destroying the reputation of their targets.
The natural question that comes to mind after going through the incredulous report is, what purpose does the fake story serve, and who is behind it?
As an international news wire service, Reuters ought to know the implication of publishing an unfounded and unsubstantial smear story of the kind they bandied in that report against the Nigerian military.
As a news organization that lays claims to records of integrity and excellence, how did Reuters acquiesce to the complicity in orchestrating a clear hatchet job aimed at ‘clipping the wings’ of the Nigerian military for daring to live up to its statutory obligation of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria?
In any case, CISA is not entirely surprised that Reuters could engage in such dark journalism. The said report follows in the well-known pattern of the Western press in subjecting the people, institutions and governments in Africa to shame and ridicule. The packaged mercenary report by Reuters is therefore one of those effort to blackmail and run down Nigeria’s military. Their consistent negative profiling and demonization of Nigerian Armed Forces depicts more of a deliberate and well-orchestrated plan to discredit the country for the purpose that is yet to unravel.
It is indeed curious that an international news agency that has hardy spotlighted the heinous activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups nor come out boldly to condemn their violent campaign in Nigeria, is the same trying to talk about human right.
Even more curious is the fact that some of these Western media are always more active in presenting distractive allegations whenever the terrorists are losing ground in the battle in Nigeria. It is very unfortunate that Reuters has followed in that pattern, as reflected in that report, to further confirm the fact that most of the Western press have been playing questionable roles in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
In any case, we are happy and indeed confident that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not be deterred in the fight to rid the country of terrorists and criminals in the country despite the shenanigans and distractions like such unfounded reports.
We salute the gallant troops of the Nigerian military who have been most professional in the discharge of their noble duty of defending Nigeria from external aggression and internal insurrection. We thank the leadership of the Armed Forces, especially the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, and the Service Chiefs, for their commitment and focused service to the nation.
CISA wishes to specifically acknowledge and appreciate the prompt response to the Reuters mercenary report by the Defence Headquarters and for also facilitating a media tour of the North East to enable journalists visit camps where surrendered Boko Haram members are quartered with their wives and children. The thousands of women and children the journalists saw and interacted with in Borno State, a fortnight ago, effectively buried the lies and mendacity contained in that Reuters story.
Finally, we have simple advice to Nigerians: Be wary of these international media and take their reports on our battle against terrorism and banditry with a pinch of salt.
Signed,
Mohammed Sirajo Ibrahim
Coordinator, North East,
December 6, 2022.
Credit: Security Digest.
