By Nkechi Eze
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has warned that delays in communicating military operations could undermine the fight against insurgency, stressing that timely and accurate information is critical to countering enemy propaganda and sustaining operational effectiveness.
According to a press release issued by the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), signed by its Public Relations Officer, Matthew Abi, Buratai made the remarks on Friday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the DECAN Annual Lecture and Awards Committee at his residence.
Buratai said the military must deliberately project its operations and communicate relevant information to the public, warning that failure to do so could weaken both military strategy and operational execution.
“If you don’t project yourself, if you don’t get your information out as timely as possible, then be reassured that even your battle will be lost. Your strategy will be ineffective, which by implication, your operational execution will also be affected,” he said.
The former Army chief described defence journalism as a critical component of national security, noting that the media plays an important role in informing the public about the challenges, achievements and prospects of the defence sector.
He recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army strengthened its relationship with defence correspondents by allowing journalists to accompany troops to operational theatres.
According to him, the initiative was partly aimed at countering the propaganda machinery of Boko Haram insurgents, who used information to propagate their ideology, spread rumours and demoralise citizens and troops.
“The terrorists, insurgents, use media, use information very strongly to propagate their ideas, to demoralize the citizens and even demoralize the military and the best way to counter it, as we did, was to carry the press along and they report right on the scene,” Buratai said.
He recalled an operation during which journalists accompanied a military convoy advancing towards Gamboru Ngala after troops had cleared Mafa and Dikwa.
Buratai said the convoy was ambushed en route, resulting in the death of one soldier and injuries to a general and another soldier.
He noted that the presence of journalists enabled the incident to be reported live, providing first-hand accounts of the operation and helping to counter the insurgents’ information campaign.
“Those issues were reported live, and we now broke the Boko Haram information and media propaganda back, so they could no longer have the monopoly to tell the world, to spread rumours,” he said.
Buratai commended defence correspondents for their contributions to reporting military and security operations and urged the media and military to sustain their relationship in the interest of national security and development.
Earlier, the DECAN President, Odita Sunday, said the delegation visited Buratai to formally notify him of his nomination and invitation to serve as Guest Lecturer at the association’s 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony.
Odita said Buratai’s experience in military leadership, national defence and security matters would contribute to discussions on emerging threats and the growing role of technology and intelligence in modern security operations.
He said the annual lecture would provide a platform for policymakers, security professionals, journalists, academics and other stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
Odita added that the lecture and awards ceremony would recognise individuals and institutions whose contributions have advanced national security, defence and responsible journalism in Nigeria.
