The Nigerian Army has said the Maiduguri and Abuja offices of Media Trust Limited (Publisher of Daily Trust newspaper titles) were invaded over a report that undermined national security.

A statement from Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Usman, at 11:54pm on Sunday night said ” the Nigerian Army wishes to clarify on alleged invasion of Media Trust Headquarters in Abuja and regional office in Maiduguri.”

He said, “we would like to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army along with elements of Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were indeed at Abuja and Maiduguri offices of the publishing company to invite the staff of the company over its lead story on Sunday Trust publication, which divulged classified military information, thus undermining national security.”

He said, “In it, the newspaper disclosed details of planned military operations against the Boko Haram terrorists.”

“The disclosure of classified security information amounts to a breach of national security and run contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

“It afforded the Boko Haram terrorists prior notice of our plans and giving them early warning to prepare against the Nigerian military, thus sabotaging the planned operations and putting the lives of troops in imminent and clear danger.

“We would like to state that the invitation of those responsible for divulging military plans was done with the best of intention in order to make them realise the import of such acts to our national security.

“We therefore advice all, particularly journalists, not to worry but engage in their responsive reportage and to be professional as the Nigerian Army has no intention of muzzling the press or jeopardising press freedom.

“We however, wish to enjoin further that they should eschew jeopardizing national security in their reportage.

“We would not tolerate situation where a publication would consistently side with terrorists and undermine our national institutions.

“We wish to appeal to all, especially the media, to join hands with the Nigerian military and security forces to end terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.

“We would like to further assure that the invitation is for further investigation and if need be, all those culpable of jeopardising security operations will be prosecuted by the relevant law enforcement agency, ” the army statement read.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-we-invade-daily-trust-offices-army.html

Ndi Daily Trust, don't divulge secret information again

MrPresident1:
Ndi Daily Trust, don't divulge secret information again

So that's enough reason to take laws into their own hands?

What about getting a competent court to give the order? Are we in a military junta?

make una go invade sambisa offensively. leave harmless civilian alone .

Nigeria millitary no get plan B? once the plan A is leaked, brain don finish be dat

uyor3:


So that's enough reason to take laws into their own hands?

What about getting a competent court to give the order? Are we in a military junta?

This is a high grade sensitive national security issue

serves them right.They shud raze down their useless office.They are Bokos informat

uyor3:


So that's enough reason to take laws into their own hands?

What about getting a competent court to give the order? Are we in a military junta?

let the useless Daily trust go do the same with USA Soldiers.Watch if dey nor go level

uyor3:


So that's enough reason to take laws into their own hands?

What about getting a competent court to give the order? Are we in a military junta?

Normal comment expected from an average person. Stretch your reasoning capacity a little more broda by reading the Nigerian Official Secret act of 1962. Hereunder is a link to it
https://nlipw.com/official-secrets-act/

Which plan?
What's result of the ones you have been planning since 2015?

Nigerian army has no shame. Boko haram is overuning your bases, carrying away weapons even torching naval bases and all you could do is to invade media house to sieze phones and computers because they are publishing your failures. Smh for Nigeria!

I've always condemned the Nigerian military for their high handedness and wreckless proclivity to thuggery and brainless actions all around... But on these one I have to agree with why they acted the way they did. This media platforms have to draw the line between doing their basic journalistic jobs and divulging classified military information to the public, ISWAP have very easy access to media tabloids and you can bet they've read all the reports about the intended military attack on them, and are definitely prepared.

docadams:


Normal comment expected from an average person. Stretch your reasoning capacity a little more broda by reading the Nigerian Official Secret act of 1962. Hereunder is a link to it
https://nlipw.com/official-secrets-act/

I just did.

However, is it not the duty of our courts to interpret the law and subsequently make judicial prounoucemt. . .that may give legal backing to the action already taken by the military?

MrPresident1:


This is a high grade sensitive national security issue

Maybe it is what was the purpose of the invasion and what did it achieve.

From all indications it was an emotional response out of perhaps anger.

We must have rule of law and we must act rationally not emotionally.

The question is was there another way to deal with the issue.
This approach seems very crude.
The Nigerian Army is acting as if it is at war with the press
It can never win that war not in the internet era. It needs to carry the press along and stop all these bully boy tactics

Part of the problem is that those people heading the Army are there for the wrong reasons

See excuse oo

Let me just be reading comment here

Well done our army!

after some PhePhul will claim Buhari is sending our brothers to go & die.

meanwhile, Na dem dey kee dem!

VOTE BUHARI for continuity

Denton027:
I've always condemned the Nigerian military for their high handedness and wreckless proclivity to thuggery and brainless actions all around... But on these one I have to agree with why they acted the way they did. This media platforms have to draw the line between doing their basic journalistic jobs and divulging classified military information to the public, ISWAP have very easy access to media tabloids and you can bet they've read all the reports about the intended military attack on them, and are definitely prepared.

What did the action achieve

The correct approach is to educate and collaborate with the press.
If the press know what the Army are doing then ISWAP do already besides thiis is the purported reason does not mean it is true.

There is nothing so "Top secret" in the so called report.

We have seen more serious wars in Iraq ,Syria and Afghanistan with embedded reporters and more detailed reporting so the Nigerian Army should spare us the bullshit.
A sensible Army could even use the press for disinformation.


There is no justification for this because it achieves NOTHING good for the Army and much negative PR
We can only measure its usefulness and justification by outcome. We are now in the internet era. How many people can they arrest

War strategies involve concealing information about your next plan or moves from the external party. This shows that moles are within the military. If newspaper is aware about their next moves as such boko haram is already aware. Military are just victimizing the press rather than to look inward find the moles among themselves and tightening every loose ends to avoid information leaking out.
During the arab israeli war, one of the plus for the israeli was that even soldiers participating did not know the day israeli military attack would be carried out. Hence, attacked on Egyptian military base was swift, fast and highly succesful.

That was the strategy that won the war for the israeli, not any support from prayer.
Adequate planning and good strategy will win any war

docadams:


Normal comment expected from an average person. Stretch your reasoning capacity a little more broda by reading the Nigerian Official Secret act of 1962. Hereunder is a link to it
https://nlipw.com/official-secrets-act/

There is no need posting links randomly

The Nigerian Army has no law enforcement power under our law.

None whatsoever

They are not the police.
because we have lived under military government for so long many are ignorant of this.
The Nigerian Army has no legal power to raid press offices in Abuja to take away computers
If the Nigerian Army are unhappy with civillians they can either make a complaint to the police or go to court.

Let us assume that the law was broken .What remedy or solution lies in raiding the office

The action was unlawful

After all the raiding drama they will still have to go to court to get justice or is the idea to make the journalist do frog jumps as usual
What did they hope to achieve with the raids

The actual raiding achieved nothing more that a crude show of force

It just shows how loose the Nigerian army is or how did daily trust get the info cause am sure they didn't get it from boko haram someone within the army let the info out to the press so the army should focus more on the snitch within them..

My question is, how did this information get to the press in the first place?

omonnakoda:


There is no need posting links randomly

The Nigerian Army has no law enforcement power under our law.

None whatsoever

They are not the police.
because we have lived under military government for so long many are ignorant of this.
The Nigerian Army has no legal power to raid press offices in Abuja to take away computers
If the Nigerian Army are unhappy with civillians they can either make a complaint to the police or go to court.

Let us assume that the law was broken .What remedy or solution lies in raiding the office

The action was unlawful

After all the raiding drama they will still have to go to court to get justice or is the idea to make the journalist do frog jumps as usual
What did they hope to achieve with the raids

The actual raiding achieved nothing more that a crude show of force

He said, “we would like to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army along with elements of Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were indeed atwereja and Maiduguri offices of the publishing company to invite the staff of the company over its lead story on Sunday Trust

Now its time to go and open that link and read all about the act. Reading it won't kill you.

uyor3:


I just did.

However, is it not the duty of our courts to interpret the law and subsequently make judicial prounoucemt. . .that may give legal backing to the action already taken by the military?

From the army account, they went for the arrest with the NPF and other sister agencies (likely DSS). The act says a senior police officer is to issue warrant of arrest. Let's not forget that this is just an arrest.

ibnzubair:
My question is, how did this information get to the press in the first place?

What is the duty of the press in the first place?

How do they get or are supposed to get information?

Which should come first; publishing sensitive information for gains or supporting the military the best way they can for the sake of national security and development?

RoyalUc:


What is the duty of the press in the first place?

How do they get or are supposed to get information?

Which should come first; publishing sensitive information for gains or supporting the military the best way they can for the sake of national security and development?

Information get to them when those involved reveal such. If the press gets information about the details of a planned attack, then it must have come from the military and hence, the military should be responsible for the leakage.

I'm not in support of the press here, but I believe the military should have been more responsible

ibnzubair:


Information get to them when those involved reveal such. If the press gets information about the details of a planned attack, then it must have come from the military and hence, the military should be responsible for the leakage.

I'm not in support of the press here, but I believe the military should have been more responsible

I agree with you that the military should have been more responsible, but according to the report we are debating on, they said; "the invitation of those responsible for divulging military plans was done with the best of intention in order to make them realise the import of such acts to our national security." they went to invite those involved.

You said, "If the press gets information about the details of a planned attack, then it must have come from the military and hence, the military should be responsible for the leakage." we all know there will always be a 'betrayer' in any group, but as responsible corporate citizens, would it be wise to publish information capable of jeopardizing the efforts of the military?

Would you say the military is not trying the much they can in the fight against BH?

The media should be more sensitive and selective about the information they publish especially when it comes to National security and integration.
That's what professionalism is all about

RoyalUc:


I agree with you that the military should have been more responsible, but according to the report we are debating on, they said; "the invitation of those responsible for divulging military plans was done with the best of intention in order to make them realise the import of such acts to our national security." they went to invite those involved.

You said, "If the press gets information about the details of a planned attack, then it must have come from the military and hence, the military should be responsible for the leakage." we all know there will always be a 'betrayer' in any group, but as responsible corporate citizens, would it be wise to publish information capable of jeopardizing the efforts of the military?

Would you say the military is not trying the much they can in the fight against BH?

Considering that I'm not an expert in warfare, I can't say that

docadams:



He said, “we would like to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army along with elements of Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were indeed atwereja and Maiduguri offices of the publishing company to invite the staff of the company over its lead story on Sunday Trust

Now its time to go and open that link and read all about the act. Reading it won't kill you.

I read it
They said they were there to invite

DID YOU READ

Is inviting the same as seizing phones and computers?

You are a buffoon

There is no provision in law for the Army to do this

NONE

Along with elements still indicates an Army led operation

You interpret that wiith whatever brain you have .

Even the police need a court order to do this

So please stop ridiculing yourself

This is not a military goverhment or maybe it is and we are kidding ourselves

So saying the police was there means what?
The police can go into a bank and empty the vault?
The question is

What does the law say?

Get a search warrant.

Only the President can order such an operation under state of emergency but it is so common place now jokers like you come around talking nonsense

Is Borno state under martial law?