Gentlemen of the press,
This meeting today is not so much about briefing you on the development in the ongoing counter terrorist campaign as it is to express the appreciation of the Nigerian military for the outpouring of love, support and understanding of good people of this great country to our gallant armed forces. Nevertheless, let me proceed by first of all giving you some update on the nation’s campaign against terror.
STRATEGIC PLAN
So far, so good things are working out in line with the strategic plans. A very significant number of identified terrorists enclaves have already been pounded and destroyed in the course of continuing air strikes. Ground forces are also conducting assaults along with necessary mopping up, cordon and search operations in communities and locations previously occupied by terrorists.
SHOW OF SUPPORT
The sight of every segment of the Nigerian society coming out in unison to cheer and celebrate the modest achievement of the nation’s forces is inspiring indeed.
MEDIA FALSEHOOD/CONSPIRACY.
However, while these support and show of love are being savored, the attitude and activities of segments of the society who are still hell bent on undermining the morale of our fighting force by deliberately playing down the operational successes so far achieved remains very unfortunate indeed. In a bid to spitefully drown the efforts of our troops, this group of people have been mischievously and exaggeratingly reporting the supportive roles of "foreign allies"(MNJTF) to the detriment of our operational success in the fight against terror. They go to every extent to ridicule, taunt or project every falsehood, purely to score some points in the clandestine sympathy for the terrorists. This unpatriotic posture is directly or indirectly undermining the esteemed status of Nigeria in the comity of nations.
The need has therefore arisen for a call on the media to beware of the mischief and conspiracy by some theorists who are still bent on orchestrating a well-rehearsed smear campaign against the Nigerian military. They have been struggling to attribute the recent defeats inflicted on the terrorists to the invincibility of other forces or military outfits other than Nigeria’s.
The antics of some foreign media and their local collaborators who will stop at nothing to bring the Nigerian military to disrepute is no longer new or unusual. The Nigerian military will not be distracted or detracted from the current momentum which is geared towards stamping out terrorism not only in Nigeria but in the entire sub-region.
REGIONAL MILITARIES MISSION
The truth of the matter is that the current turn of the tide against the terrorists is an initiative conceived and is being driven by the Nigerian military but enjoying the backing of the reinvigorated Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Our partners are entrusted with employing the instrumentality of the Multi- National Joint Task Force to contain any terrorists who heads towards our borders with neighbouring countries and preventing the formation of any new safe haven elsewhere.
NIGERIA SOVEREIGNTY
The forces have been working very hard in consonance with the terms and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that preceded this operation. They are effectively checkmating trans-border activities of the terrorists. There have been instances where these provisions for the operation of the MNJTF has afforded our partners the latitude required to pursue or beat back a retr eating band of terrorists into Nigerian territory as was the case in Gamboru and other locations not far from the border.
Unfortunately, some interest groups who seek to misinterpret this fruitful collaboration are seeking to drive a wedge between the Nigerian military and her supporting military formations or contingent by deliberately trying to denigrate and ridicule the effort of the Nigerian forces.
There has been no compromise of any aspect of Nigeria’s sovereignty or soil to any foreign force. This counter terrorist operation is comprehensively driven by Nigerian forces. Other members of the MNJTF have so far successfully denied the common enemy freedom of trans-border operations and this is in consonance with the idea of the multinational coalition initiated as far back as 1998.
MEDIA BLACKOUT
Please note that there has not been an outright denial of access as propagated in some quarters. We urge you to show understanding of the peculiar nature of this war as we are more concerned about your safety than any other consideration.
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