Judul : General Uba, Media Manipulation, and the Hidden Adversary
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General Uba, Media Manipulation, and the Hidden Adversary
It's now common knowledge, and everyone in Nigeria, likely even those concealed under a rock, has learned that Boko Haram achieved a significant symbolic victory this week by ambushing a Nigerian military convoy, resulting in the capture and death of Brigadier General M. Uba.
It is certainly a major setback for the nation to lose someone of such high status, and particularly difficult for his family to have lost a beloved individual in this way; his passing being celebrated as a triumph by the country's adversaries. We should not overlook the fact that although this is a symbolic loss for Nigeria, for his family and friends, it is the genuine loss of a loved one: a father, a husband, a son, and a friend.
It is unlikely that any single soldier's death has had as significant an impact during this crisis as the passing of General Uba and Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu Ali in November 2016. The fact that both officers died in November is purely by chance. The reality that both men, along with many others lost to this insurgency, had to die stems from a mix of negligence, poor management, corruption, and a puzzling lack of political determination.
Following the death of General Uba, multiple explanations have emerged regarding the events that resulted in such a significant symbolic blow to the nation from the terrorists. The main version of this story appears to blame the media as the responsible party. It is claimed that if the media had not reported the disappearance of a military general on the front lines, General Uba, who had survived the ambush and was waiting for assistance, might have made it back to base. According to reports, media coverage heightened Boko Haram's efforts to find him, ultimately leading to his capture and demise.
Blaming the media in this manner merely shifts focus away from the actual problems, which include a series of strategic missteps within the military that made this situation possible. Chief among these was the military's inability to promptly rescue the general and his troops, as well as its poor communication with Nigerian journalists.
It is unreasonable to expect the media to avoid reporting on a general who has gone missing during a battle. No matter how much idealism we bring into this discussion, we must acknowledge the fact that the press's primary responsibility is to report news as soon as it can be verified. In the era of citizen journalism, could the media have delayed publishing the story about a general being missing in action on the battlefield? Possibly. However, we need to recognize that someone with significantly less caution than a professional journalist might have released this information.
It's easy to point fingers at the media for this tragedy. However, the military also needs to take responsibility. Their overly confident response to media reports was ineffective. Anyone with even a basic grasp of how the media functions—something I expect the military's public relations staff to understand—knows that when you deny a journalist's report, you cast doubt on their professional credibility. Journalists are trained to stand by their stories and back them up with solid evidence to confirm the truth and maintain their reputation. This principle is as essential to journalism as the training soldiers receive to never lose their weapons.
If the military's public relations team had contacted the media to clarify the operational confidentiality surrounding the release of those reports and the necessity for the press to align with the military's message due to the risks involved, no responsible journalist would have refused. I believe the reporters might have even withdrawn their article for these reasons.
The Nigerian media is not without flaws. Reporters might suffer from the Brown Envelope problem, financial instability, and even dubious professional behavior, but there's no doubt about their position in this struggle. The media hopes for the military's success just as every sincere Nigerian does.
Rather than blaming and continuously trying to paint the media, military, and Nigerian government in a negative light, they should reflect on their own roles in the systemic corruption and lack of determination, if any exists, which has weakened the military's effectiveness and hindered its ability to eliminate this terrorism problem for over ten years. This is what led to the death of General Uba and the soldiers who died alongside him, the APC leader in Zamfara, the security officer at Maga, who was killed while twenty-five students were taken from their school, and the thousands of innocent or courageous Nigerians who have fallen victim to these criminals—not the media. May their souls be at peace, and may God provide comfort to their families and to the families of our other fallen heroes.
Although this attack brings back memories of the heightened vulnerability from 2014, there has been no report of, or mention of, an immediate response from the military. There have been no significant bombings targeting the terrorists' bases in retaliation, nor any swift or courageous effort to rescue the kidnapped students. Not even a firm statement of condemnation has been issued.
Rather, it appears as it has consistently been, that the political leadership of this nation is more concerned with gaining power. The deployment of well-armed officers to assault the Wadata House of the opposition PDP—not Sambisa Forest—demonstrates where their focus lies.
It is accurate that Boko Haram, in all its forms, has grown and become more sophisticated, yet the Nigerian military has also advanced, although the outcomes have mostly stayed consistent. Areas within this nation are still controlled and managed by terrorists, not only in the North East but also in the North West. This is in addition to the large areas of lawless regions spread throughout the country.
We have lacked a clear strategic plan or strict schedule to address this issue. Although President Tinubu pledged during his campaign that the military and police would be strengthened through the large-scale recruitment of 50 million young people and the provision of equipment to handle this matter, these statements have not resulted in any real action.
We can only wish that his statement regarding this recent event—that those who jeopardize the peace of Nigerians will encounter the full force of the Nigerian government—will result in tangible actions. At this stage, Nigeria doesn't require a disheartened president. It needs a furious one—one whose anger and fury, as the Commander-in-Chief, would be aimed at these militants.
The Senate's request for an additional 100,000 military personnel to protect our schools and stop the disturbing events linked to Maga is a necessary move, but there are some concerns. Firstly, regarding the military, this is not simply about quantity. It is unlikely that Boko Haram has more members than the military, and we cannot claim they are more skilled than our trained soldiers. Although we can discuss the fact that the military is overburdened, dealing with various internal challenges and frequently taking on tasks that the police should manage, with improved efficiency, gear, and cooperation, it remains capable of addressing these dangers.
The second concern is that our mindset should move past the idea of turning the nation into a military stronghold. No country, not even North Korea, and especially not Nigeria, stretching from the Sahara to the Atlantic, can function as a large military base. Although the armed forces may need to increase their numbers, it is crucial that the police also grow in both quantity and expertise. Military personnel should not be responsible for protecting schools and markets, as that is the role of the police.
The losses and the difficult, expensive sacrifices our forces have endured, along with those who came before them, such as the well-known Lt. Col. Abu Ali, should not be in vain. Similarly, the repeated large-scale kidnappings of children and the control of our communities by terrorists should not be accepted as normal. These criminals have had their 90 days. It's time we take our turn.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Demikianlah Artikel General Uba, Media Manipulation, and the Hidden Adversary
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