•Army woos South East social media influencers on national security
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
•Military operation in South East
The relationship between the military and residents of South East is anything but rosy, for obvious reasons. Several people in the area believe that the operations of the troops in the region were below standard practices especially after the invasion of Afara-Ukwu country home of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in Umuahia, Abia State in September 2017.
•Military chiefs at the event
Dozens of Igbo youths were reportedly mowed down in that inglorious exercise code-named Operation Python Dance 11 (Egwu Eke 11). Even the current Operation Udoka has not received passed mark following cases of alleged killings of innocent youths and sacking of communities particularly in the Orlu and Okigwe areas.
Daily Sun gathered that the situation gave rise to the recent call by the IPOB on Igbo youths to shun the current recruitment exercise by the army. But the army would not want the ugly trend to persist as it on April 23, 2024, convoked a seminar in Aba, aimed at boosting civil-military relationship.
At the event tagged: “Enhancing National Security Through the Responsible Use of Social Media,” Captain J. P. Pam, Civil-Military Department, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, said they employ two methods in executing their professional duties – the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
He explained that it was in deploying non-kinetic approach, that they assembled over 300 social media influencers, spread across the state, for the seminar. He also disclosed that the Aba event was the 33rd of its kind in the country.
Chief of Civil/Military Affairs, Major General Nosa Ugbo, informed the gathering that the seminar provided an opportunity for social media influencers, bloggers, media practitioners, and the general public to gather and to engage freely with the Army.
Represented by Director, Psychological Operations, Army Headquarters, Brig Gen. Bola Keji, he said with the engagement, it was envisaged that pathways toward a harmonious coexistence would be forged: “The digital footprints of citizens can either fortify or undermine the army’s quest for peace and the safeguarding of the country’s national interest
“The Nigerian Army’s collective aim of organising the seminar is to combat the pernicious influence of fake news, hate speeches and divisive content propagated through technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, voice modulation and video editing, among others.
“The undeniable truth is that our words, tone, and propagation across the social media reverberate far beyond the digital realm, significantly impacting Nigeria’s security landscape. Thus, we must acknowledge that social media is pivotal in fostering peace and shaping public opinion and perception.
“The result of all the efforts of the army was to have a fortified civil-military relationship built on mutual trust and improved cooperation while ensuring national security.
“The seminar was also designed to serve as a feedback mechanism to x-ray the Army’s operations for better service delivery to the people. The outcome of the seminar will assist in consolidating their operational achievements and enhance the economic development of Aba in particular and the South East in general.”
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Hassan Dada, gave the reason of abundance of productive youths in the area as the choice of Aba for the seminar. He described the theme as apt and harped on the need for good use of the social media so as not to heat up the polity or invite chaos.
He stated that social media platform had become an important tool in shaping the security environment of any society: “Its misuse for the dissemination of injurious content can lead to devastating impact on the society.
“It was also a veritable forum to hear from the society and create a way forward. You are all qualified to be addressed as peace ambassadors. Let me also emphasise that the Nigerian Army is the people’s army and the place of the people.
“As the people need the Army, the Army also cannot achieve its desired constitutional mandates without the people’s support. Thus, this relationship is pivotal to the attainment of our collective desires for economic prosperity and national growth.
“I encourage you all to remain resolute in your support to your Army. I assure you of the resilience of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies to sustain the effort to exterminate any individual or group found out to be a source of threat to the collective peace in Abia State and other states within 82 Division Area of responsibility as well as the unity of Nigeria.”
In a paper, “Curtailing Negative Content on Social Media: Responsibilities of Users,” Director, Steady Home Support Initiative, Dr. Ehiz Odigie, regretted that millions of emergency bloggers now infiltrate the journalism profession, posing as journalists and causing havoc to the profession.
She warned: “Such people must not spread fears or panic that will heat up the polity. There is the good, the bad, the ugly in the Internet. Social media has made some people to be desensitised, resulting in spicing truth with lies, transfer of aggression, emotional outburst and misplaced emotion.
“Some people come to social media to educate and entertain. People need to understand the mentality of others to avoid careless comments that can attract sanctions.
“A careless post can make a community catch fire. People should remember they are stakeholders in the society. If they ignite fire to consume others, the fire can also consume them.”
Prof. Uzoma Ogbonna, Department of Geography, Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), who presented a paper; “Fake News on Social Media and its Effects on National Security,” said: “The growing cases of online bullying and call for fact-checking of online information, because of the negative impacts of fake news on national security.”
Some of the social media influencers called for more cordial relationship between the civilians and the military. They believed it would engender military operations with human face.