Nigerian journalists cause setbacks on security issues - Governor Shettima

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said that instances where journalists break stories that work against efforts of security agencies in Nigeria cause setbacks because those in control of sensitive information do not take the journalists into confidence while at the same time they mostly give less information believing that the journalists lack the capacity to get the facts.

Shettima made this observation on Thursday at a workshop on synergy between the media and the military jointly organized by the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army and the Borno State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists which held at the Pinnacle Hotel in Maiduguri.

The workshop was attended by senior Military and para-military ‎officials including the Theater commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Irabor as well as the G.O.C 7th Division aside officials from outside the State.

Shettima spoke after a paper delivered by former Defence spokesman, Retired General Chris Olukolade whose presentation portrayed the Nigerian media as mostly working against efforts by the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram across the northeast.

The Governor in his address said in developed countries the media is often taken into confidence and told the truth about security situations with the understanding that the media manage their reports in ways that do not undermine security interests of their host countries.

"I had asked myself many times that why was it that in developed countries, Presidents and other leaders would go to places like Afghanistan and Iraq to meet with their soldiers at the battle fronts but such visits would not be instantly reported by leading media houses of the world like the CNN, BBC, New York Times, Aljazeera, Reuters, AFP and other media establishments. Reports about these visits would mostly be made public only days after the visit of the President or when the media is sure that the safety of the Presidents at the front lines in Afghanistan would not be compromised.

"A lot of us have heard how the CNN reported meetings between President Obama and troops in battle fields only days after such visits. The International media completely shielded Prince Harry when he was fighting as a soldier and member of the British troops in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008. He was only reported 10 weeks into his deployment after leaving dangerous point in Afghanistan.