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Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram - Politics - Nairaland

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Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by ivandragon: 3:47am On Dec 24, 2016
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday accused PREMIUM TIMES of allegedly displaying sympathies for Boko Haram in a shocking response to this newspaper’s dispassionate reporting highlighting the suffering of our troops who are locked in a long-drawn battle with the terror sect.


PREMIUM TIMES reporting on the anti-insurgency war in the north-east has exposed how army authorities from time to time left troops on the battlefront hungry and thirsty while also failing to adequately arm and equip them.


However, during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon , Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’, claimed reporting by this medium were not a true reflection of the situation on the ground— and warned the paper of dire consequences.


“Every publication from PREMIUM TIMES either eulogises Boko Haram or mischievously emphasise, beyond proportion, the challenges of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole,” Mr. Irabor, a major general, said.


Mr. Irabor’s attack on this paper appears a frustrating response to this paper’s capacity to factually report events as they unfold on the battlefront despite the best efforts by authorities to conceal information from Nigerians.


Military insiders had told this paper weeks ago that the army had placed our paper under close watch as it launched extensive discreet investigation to determine who our numerous sources are.


In his speech on Wednesday, Mr. Irabor made specific references to PREMIUM TIMES reportage of the war over the past two months.


He said he was miffed by the paper’s series on missing soldiers in October.


The articles provided details of how Nigerian soldiers manning a Forward Operation Base in Gashigar, Borno State, came under heavy firepower from Boko Haram on October 17.


After initial resistance, the troops, who told us they were poorly equipped and unpaid, soon abandoned their base and scampered for safety.


As they retreated from battle, some of the soldiers jumped into River Yobe, with the terrorists opening fire on them, killing some and leaving unknown number of them fatally wounded .


The attack also left scores of soldiers missing, including K. Yusuf, a lieutenant colonel and commander of the 145 Task Force Battalion.


For several weeks, PREMIUM TIMES stayed on the story with updates, including how the Army raised a panel to probe the incident as well as the notifications sent out to families of some of the missing personnel.
Efforts by the Army to deny or play down the unfortunate development were unsuccessful.


The Army was also irked by exclusive reports about a revolt that nearly resulted in an attack on the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army 7 Division in Maiduguri.


The soldiers who revolted were attached to “Operation Rescue Finale” launched earlier this month to dislodge Boko Haram insurgents from Sambisa Forest — a massive reserve which has long been occupied by the terrorists— and rescue civilians trapped there.


The soldiers, mostly of the Nigerian Army 21 Brigade in Bama, rioted early Friday after they were left without food for more than 24 hours.


When the GOC, Victor Ezegwu, eventually arrived in a helicopter bearing foods and other supplies on Friday morning, the troops swooped on him and rushed the snacks, food and water he brought.


They removed all the supplies, including parts for operational vehicles and other equipment, before moving towards the GOC in an attempt to attack him, our sources said.


An abridged video of that incident has since appeared online.


This medium also reported that the tumult came eight months after a similar situation played out in Alagarno.
At the time, troops fighting to take control of the town attempted to attack their GOC after they were left for five days without water, this newspaper reported, based on information obtained from top-level military sources.
The reference to the April 2016 riot was confirmed in a newly released video posted on YouTube by some unknown persons.


Still, Mr. Irabor dismissed the reports as “hateful representation of the medium’s wishes for the troops.”
Mr. Irabor called on media bodies such as the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists to denounce this newspaper and “defend their national security interest.”


The major general marked PREMIUM TIMES out as the only media outfit in Nigeria that had been reporting stories the Army finds uncomfortable and praised other media outlets for their cooperation.


“Premium Times is isolated,” he said. “The rest of the Media have (sic) shown patriotism, commitment and support for the operation. I wish to therefore commend these patriotic media houses and urge them to continue in that regard.”


PREMIUM TIMES has however asked its journalists to disregard the attempt by the army to intimidate or muzzle the medium.


“We must not be intimidated by the Army’s claim,” the paper’s Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, wrote in an email to reporters on Thursday morning. “We should continue with our courageous, fair and balanced reporting and ensure we continue to act as thorough professionals. That has remained and should continue to remain our watchword whether the Army and other security agencies like it or not.”


On Thursday evening, Mr. Akinbajo added, “The Army has a habit of labelling anyone who exposes its atrocities and failures of working against Nigeria’s interest.


“We are proud of our reporting and stand by our stories and will continue to act with utmost professionalism and patriotism in not only reporting on the army and Boko Haram, but in all our reports.


“The Nigerian Army and the establishment should by now know that our reporting are rooted in strong ethics and in huge consideration for national interest and the welfare of our people, including our troops.
“We will never be intimidated in this service to our country and its people.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/218768-nigerian-army-falsely-accuses-premium-times-disparaging-troops-supporting-boko-haram.html

8 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by endoski: 3:48am On Dec 24, 2016
As usual they'll come here and deny facts,besides what right have they to interfere with what the press is publishing when its clear to everyone that soldiers are been maltreated. Nigerian army generals are all bunch of disgrace,useless pot belly men undecided undecided

in other news FTC grin

47 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Bitterleafsoup: 3:51am On Dec 24, 2016
Do they think we believe anything from anybody put into postion by this administration?

Good job PT unlike America media you are only obligated to the truth.

Anybody that allows those men fighting for us to starve and fight ill equipped are enemies of the Federation.

GEJ was stopped by every International country to buy arms, this administration has so much backing and billions in loans to fight Boko Harem, yet and still two years later the Armed Forces are worst off.
Why?

64 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by limeta(f): 4:01am On Dec 24, 2016
Keep up the good work.
Only premium for me as of today.

28 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Bitterleafsoup: 4:03am On Dec 24, 2016
limeta:
Keep up the good work.
Only premium for me as of today.
Exactly I dey follow you!

All those yeye ones put us in this mess with printed propaganda of change.

56 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by limeta(f): 4:07am On Dec 24, 2016
Bitterleafsoup:
Exactly I dey follow you!

All those yeye ones put us in this mess with printed propaganda of change.




How are you my dear

3 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Atiku2019: 4:11am On Dec 24, 2016
Nigeria Army and Lies 5 & 6

57 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Bitterleafsoup: 4:19am On Dec 24, 2016
limeta:





How are you my dear
Sweetie I am doing fine and you?
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by ivandragon: 4:21am On Dec 24, 2016
the dividend of democracy is not about infrastructure or physical works..

the dividends of democracy are your alienable rights to life, speech, association, residence etc... those are the key components of a democracy... & it is the freedom of the press that serves as the barometer & protector of those rights.

& before 2019 is up, this regime will crush those rights.

24 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Otono123(m): 4:32am On Dec 24, 2016
Touch not premium times and do them no harm. They are the only reliable media house that still keep us informed.

40 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Orjioorji(f): 4:32am On Dec 24, 2016
we know army authority will always attack those who exposed their evil.

22 Likes 1 Share

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by CyberWolf: 4:43am On Dec 24, 2016
What goes around comes around.. The same premiumtimes, Sahara reporters and other left media which APC used in the discrediting GEJ administration's fight against BH.. Well whatever they do is none of my biz.. They can kill themselves there for all I care!

36 Likes 1 Share

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by BeeBeeOoh(m): 4:55am On Dec 24, 2016
Does it really concern me? Owners of evil load(Premium Times) should carry their load abeg. We've not forgotten their role the last time..

8 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Nutase: 5:38am On Dec 24, 2016
tongue
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by tundafayaBuhari: 6:51am On Dec 24, 2016
Useless Nigeria Army. if they unarmed protesters they will be happy. Bokoharam will finish them

8 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Nobody: 8:43am On Dec 24, 2016
Wetin we no go hear for this Buhari period?

Meanwhile

28 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by okosodo: 8:43am On Dec 24, 2016
Nigerian army is deceiving nigerians with this boko haram

1 Like 2 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Nobody: 8:43am On Dec 24, 2016
Hmm
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by SexyNairalander: 8:44am On Dec 24, 2016
booked
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Nobody: 8:44am On Dec 24, 2016
CyberWolf:
What goes around comes around.. The same premiumtimes, Sahara reporters and other left media which APC used in the discrediting GEJ administration's fight against BH.. Well whatever they do is none of my biz.. They can kill themselves there for all I care!

No. Premium Times and SR is doing the job the Press is meant to do in a democratic society, condemn what is wrong so that things can change for the better.

And I for one am glad they are doing it regardless of who is in charge. Yesterday it was PDP, today APC.

If we pretend everything is OK....PMB or GEJ, we will eventually end up with a situation where the mess becomes too big to control.

The point of criticism is not to make one look bad, but to save one from worse things.

23 Likes 1 Share

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by DrObum(m): 8:44am On Dec 24, 2016
Another round of DSS arrests loading...



They can never intimidate the masses!

#atakataagbuo ka anyi bu

5 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by jodababa(m): 8:44am On Dec 24, 2016
cheesy who is fooling who

1 Like

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Mattspen22(f): 8:45am On Dec 24, 2016
All these people never know wetin dey worry them walai

1 Like

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Dc4life(m): 8:45am On Dec 24, 2016

Nigeria army is no longer a professional army, it's a political army and a tool for mass murder. The editors of Premium Times must be vigilant, this may be a prelude to something more dangerous. This is an era where telling lies is a virtue and anyone who tell the truth, like Premium Times, is an enemy.


23 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by sdindan: 8:45am On Dec 24, 2016
God Bless Premium Time.

2 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Sharon6(f): 8:46am On Dec 24, 2016
Ha!


GET RID OF STRETCH MARKS, CHECK MY SIGNATURE!
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Nobody: 8:46am On Dec 24, 2016
Atiku2019:
Nigeria Army and Lies 5 & 6
Nice moves
Is this the infamous python dance?
grin grin grin grin grin

6 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by yomalex(m): 8:47am On Dec 24, 2016
ehn
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by fivestarrealty: 8:47am On Dec 24, 2016
.
Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by NaijaMutant(f): 8:47am On Dec 24, 2016
Admit it!
There is confusion in Nigeria


The Nigerian Army have now resorted to use a political weapon of Blame game

6 Likes

Re: Army Accuses PREMIUM TIMES Of Supporting Boko Haram by Janitoh2: 8:48am On Dec 24, 2016
Bitterleafsoup:
Do they think we believe anything from anybody put into postion by this administration?

Good job PT unlike America media you are only obligated to the truth.

Anybody that allows those men fighting for us to starve and fight ill equipped are enemies of the Federation.

GEJ was stopped by every International country to buy arms, this administration has so much backing and billions in loans to fight Boko Harem, yet and still two years later the Armed Forces are worst off.
Why?
Oga I concur

3 Likes

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