The Chief of Army Staff, Liutenant-General Tukur Buratai has urged those spreading fake news on the ongoing operations, including a section of the media to desist from such, saying fake news not only poses threat to national security but makes the ongoing counter terrorism operation in the North East more difficult.
In an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, Buratai urged Nigerians to be patriotic and wary of false information. He stated that terrorists survive on propaganda to get attention and spread their ideology as well as to create fear and the impression that they were “untouchable, invincible or have capacity that they do not possess.’’
Buratai recalled that after the recent attack on the troops at Metele, many casualty figures on the part of the army was bandied. It would be recalled that after the incident, various media reports at different times put the casualty figures at 44, 70, 100 and above until a few days ago when the army confirmed 23 dead and 31 others wounded.
Buratai, however, said that the army is working to counter fake news being spread about it and its operations and exercise through its newly established Cyber Warfare Command. He said that was being done through quick responses to enquiry and timely dissemination of information, noting that information through social media platforms “spreads like wild fire.’’
On the one billion dollars approved by the Federal Government to buy arms for the military, Buratai said that the army has yet to access its share of the fund.
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