Kaduna Media and Military Command Pledge Joint Action on Insecurity and Information Sharing

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, and the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division have agreed to deepen their partnership to tackle insecurity and consolidate peace across Kaduna State and the North-West.

The commitment was announced when Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the newly posted Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 1 Division, paid a courtesy visit to the NUJ council in Kaduna.

Colonel Abdullahi described journalists as critical partners in promoting peace and public awareness, noting that his area of responsibility covers Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa states, with Kaduna serving as his host state.

He stressed that the media plays an essential role in both conflict and peacetime, particularly in communicating the activities of security agencies and educating citizens on their responsibilities.

“The importance of the media is very critical in both war and peacetime. Now that we are in a period of relative peace, the media is very important because it is the media that consolidates the gains achieved by other sectors,” Abdullahi said.

The Army spokesman also emphasised that security is a collective responsibility requiring cooperation from the military, police, journalists and the general public.

In response, NUJ Kaduna State Chairman Abdulgafar Alabelewe welcomed the Army delegation and congratulated Abdullahi on his promotion to Colonel and his posting to 1 Division.

Alabelewe described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen the longstanding relationship between journalists and military public relations officers, adding that both institutions have complementary roles in promoting peace and development.

He commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their contributions to the relative peace in Kaduna State and assured the military of the council’s commitment to sustained cooperation.

However, the NUJ chairman drew attention to persistent security concerns in parts of Southern Kaduna and reported cases of kidnapping around the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, particularly Millennium City and areas along Yakowa Road.

Alabelewe noted that some residents find it difficult to share security-related information directly with security agencies, underscoring the importance of responsible communication and cooperation with journalists.

“We want to assure you that whenever we go into the field and have information of security interest, we will always pass such information through you to the Division. We believe that, with this, we will be able to achieve the desired results,” he said.

The NUJ chairman reaffirmed the council’s readiness to deepen its partnership with the military and other security agencies, pledging that members would support initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability across Kaduna State and the North-West.

In a related engagement, Colonel Abdullahi also met with defence correspondents in Kaduna, where he sought their support for improved relations between the military and the media.