The Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development (CPDD) has raised concerns over a recent social media and some online news medium which misrepresented comments made by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, regarding the killing of terrorists, warning that such inaccuracies could undermine ongoing military operations.
In a statement on Friday, CPDD Convener Akin Daniels said the reports some on Facebook, which has gained traction online, distorted the context of the CDS’s remarks and created a misleading narrative that does not reflect the realities of ongoing military engagements across insurgency-affected areas.
CPDD noted that at a time when troops are recording measurable successes against insurgent groups, the spread of misinformation could weaken public confidence and inadvertently embolden criminal elements seeking to exploit gaps in public perception.
The group stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain bound by established rules of engagement and international best practices, adding that comments attributed to the CDS in the viral post were taken out of context and risk misinforming the public.
It therefore called on journalists, bloggers and social media influencers to exercise restraint and professionalism by verifying facts before dissemination, especially on sensitive national security matters that could influence troop morale and public cooperation.
The organisation further warned that sensational reporting could serve the propaganda objectives of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which are known to exploit misinformation as part of their psychological warfare strategies.
CPDD emphasised that while the media has a constitutional role in holding authorities accountable, it must also act in ways that do not jeopardise national security efforts, urging all stakeholders to prioritise accuracy, responsibility and national interest as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency.
The Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development (CPDD) has raised concerns over a recent social media and some online news medium which misrepresented comments made by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, regarding the killing of terrorists, warning that such inaccuracies could undermine ongoing military operations.
In a statement on Friday, CPDD Convener Akin Daniels said the reports some on Facebook, which has gained traction online, distorted the context of the CDS’s remarks and created a misleading narrative that does not reflect the realities of ongoing military engagements across insurgency-affected areas.
CPDD noted that at a time when troops are recording measurable successes against insurgent groups, the spread of misinformation could weaken public confidence and inadvertently embolden criminal elements seeking to exploit gaps in public perception.
The group stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain bound by established rules of engagement and international best practices, adding that comments attributed to the CDS in the viral post were taken out of context and risk misinforming the public.
It therefore called on journalists, bloggers and social media influencers to exercise restraint and professionalism by verifying facts before dissemination, especially on sensitive national security matters that could influence troop morale and public cooperation.
The organisation further warned that sensational reporting could serve the propaganda objectives of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which are known to exploit misinformation as part of their psychological warfare strategies.
CPDD emphasised that while the media has a constitutional role in holding authorities accountable, it must also act in ways that do not jeopardise national security efforts, urging all stakeholders to prioritise accuracy, responsibility and national interest as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency.
The Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development (CPDD) has raised concerns over a recent social media and some online news medium which misrepresented comments made by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, regarding the killing of terrorists, warning that such inaccuracies could undermine ongoing military operations.
In a statement on Friday, CPDD Convener Akin Daniels said the reports some on Facebook, which has gained traction online, distorted the context of the CDS’s remarks and created a misleading narrative that does not reflect the realities of ongoing military engagements across insurgency-affected areas.
CPDD noted that at a time when troops are recording measurable successes against insurgent groups, the spread of misinformation could weaken public confidence and inadvertently embolden criminal elements seeking to exploit gaps in public perception.
The group stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain bound by established rules of engagement and international best practices, adding that comments attributed to the CDS in the viral post were taken out of context and risk misinforming the public.
It therefore called on journalists, bloggers and social media influencers to exercise restraint and professionalism by verifying facts before dissemination, especially on sensitive national security matters that could influence troop morale and public cooperation.
The organisation further warned that sensational reporting could serve the propaganda objectives of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which are known to exploit misinformation as part of their psychological warfare strategies.
CPDD emphasised that while the media has a constitutional role in holding authorities accountable, it must also act in ways that do not jeopardise national security efforts, urging all stakeholders to prioritise accuracy, responsibility and national interest as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency.
