Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has stated that allowing journalists to report on military activities firsthand helped the Nigerian Army break Boko Haram’s propaganda grip. Buratai made this statement in Abuja when the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Annual Lecture and Awards Committee paid him a courtesy visit. During his administration, he transformed Army-media relations by taking defence correspondents to operational theatres.
Buratai explained that terrorists had exploited the media to propagate their ideology, spread misinformation, and demoralise both citizens and troops. To counter this, his administration deliberately allowed journalists to witness and report military activities firsthand. This approach helped break the jinx that journalists should not report on the military while in action in Nigeria.
The former Chief of Army Staff recalled an operation towards Gamboru-Ngala where journalists accompanying troops witnessed an ambush that left one soldier dead and two others, including a general, wounded. This frontline coverage demonstrated the seriousness of the operation and the resolve of the Army to defeat the insurgents. It also denied Boko Haram the monopoly of telling its version of events to the public and the international community.
Buratai stressed that timely and credible information remained critical to modern military strategy. He added that failure to effectively communicate military activities could undermine operational objectives. The former COAS commended the defence correspondents for their role in projecting the activities and achievements of the military.
Buratai told the defence correspondents that their part was very important, and defence journalism was particularly crucial because the sector was central to national security, development, cohesion, and national unity. He accepted the invitation to serve as Guest Lecturer at the 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony, describing the theme as contemporary and relevant to Nigeria’s national security needs.
The President of DECAN, Mr Odita Sunday, said the association invited Buratai to serve as Guest Lecturer at its 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony. Odita said Buratai’s extensive experience in military leadership and national security would enrich discussions and provide valuable insights to policymakers, security professionals, journalists, and academics.
The lecture, themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” was considered timely by Odita. He said emerging threats increasingly require the integration of technology, intelligence, cyber capabilities, surveillance systems, and other non-kinetic tools to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to anticipate, prevent, and respond to emerging security threats.
Key points
- Buratai says opening the battlefield to journalists helped the Nigerian Army break Boko Haram’s grip on information and counter terrorist propaganda.
