ThisDay Publisher to military: Stop arresting protesters, go after kidnappers

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Chairman of THISDAY-ARISE Global Media Group, Nduka Obaigbena, has advised the military to desist from arresting protesters but go after kidnappers and criminals who are known security threats.

Obaigbena, who made the call at the 2024 Third Quarter of the Nigerian Army Civil/ Military Operation Media Chat held in Makurdi yesterday, also urged Nigerians to support the military success in the fight against insecurity and insurgency in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to allocate 25 per cent of the national budget to the armed forces and security agencies to help tackle insecurity in the country.

While commending the efforts of the military to ensure the restoration of peace in troubled spots in parts of the country, Obaigbena said “Peace is very necessary for development.

‘’Our soldiers sacrifice their lives everyday to give us peace. We should not take it for granted. We should work with them and the military should do more.

“You should stop getting involved in arresting protesters, arrest kidnappers. Good governance will stop protests but kidnappers will face the wrath of the law.

“Also stop getting involved in protecting election riggers. If you do proper election, the government will be accountable.”

The publisher, who called for proper funding of the military and security agencies, advocated that “25 per cent of our national budget should be channelled to security and the armed forces and that budget will include technologies.

“Before today, we had national satellite companies and other agencies who have been working and if we integrate our national satellite capability with our war in the North East, the North West, we can monitor bandits in Kaduna.

“We spend so much money on national security, we spend so much money on national satellite technologies and across the board, we have to look at national security as a whole government approach. We need to have a vibrant defence industry.”

He also canvassed that “25 per cent of our budget should also go to education, especially in the north, so we can get our people educated.

“Then another 25 per cent for health and poverty. We have to support the vulnerable people in our society. Then we have to reduce taxes and put people’s money in their hands. They will grow their own food, their own transport and sort themselves out.

“We should continue to encourage the engagement between the people and the armed forces.”

Obaigbena, however, recalled how he went on exile after an encounter with the military during the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha, saying “I was, as a guest of the security group, head-butted by the then Col. Frank Omenka of the Department of Military Intelligence.

“THISDAY had made some publications against the Abacha government and we were invited and I was interrogated by five Generals with guns on the table. After the interrogation, the tape was asked for by General Abacha and I later went into exile.”

COAS to media: Balance nat’l security with the public’s right to information

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, urged the media to always balance national security interests with the public’s right to information while reporting on the Nigerian Army’s activities.

The COAS, who was represented by Commander of the 4 Special Forces, Doma, Major General Hilary Nzan, said he acknowledged the vital role the media plays in ensuring that the public was well-informed and educated on activities of the government and its agencies as well as the military.

He stated: “Public education and enlightenment are essential for citizens to fully understand their role in the whole-of-nation approach to addressing shared challenges. In this regard, our strongest allies in ensuring national security are those who influence the minds of citizens—the media.

“The partnership between the army and the media is essential for achieving national security goals and is critical for maintaining peace, harmony, and the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

“This focus brings us to today’s event. The Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting law-abiding citizens and their civil liberties.

‘’At the same time, the media serves as a crucial link between the military and the public, ensuring accountability and fostering mutual trust. While significant progress has been made in improving communication and media engagement, challenges persist, and forums like this help address some of these challenges in the relationship.’’

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