The information battle has become an increasingly important dimension of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency effort, with former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (rtd.), stressing that timely military communication can strengthen operational effectiveness while limiting the space for insurgent propaganda.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 18 September 2026
Time: 15:26 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin
General Buratai made the submission on Friday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Annual Lecture and Awards Committee, using his experience as a former Army Chief to underline the strategic relationship between military operations and responsible defence journalism.
Information As A Dimension Of Operations
According to the former Army Chief, the military's ability to communicate developments promptly is closely connected to how effectively it can project its operations and counter narratives generated by adversaries.
“If you don't project yourself, if you don't get your information out as timely as possible, then be reassured that even your battle will be lost.”
Buratai argued that failure to communicate effectively could affect strategy and, by extension, operational execution, making information management an important component of modern security operations.
His position places defence journalism beyond the traditional role of reporting events, highlighting its potential contribution to public understanding of military operations, achievements and challenges.
Taking The Media Into The Operational Theatre
Buratai recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army deliberately strengthened its relationship with defence correspondents by allowing journalists to accompany troops into operational theatres.
He said the approach was partly intended to counter the propaganda activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who used information to promote their ideology and attempt to undermine the morale of citizens and troops.
“The terrorists, insurgents, use media, use information very strongly to propagate their ideas, to demoralize the citizens and even demoralize the military and the best way to counter it, as we did, was to carry the press along and they report right on the scene.”
The strategy, as recalled by Buratai, was therefore built around giving journalists direct access to developments on the battlefield so that reporting could provide an alternative account to narratives being circulated by insurgents.
When Battlefield Reporting Challenged Propaganda
Buratai cited an operation involving journalists who accompanied a military convoy advancing towards Gamboru Ngala after troops had cleared Mafa and Dikwa.
He recalled that the convoy was subsequently ambushed, resulting in the death of one soldier and injuries to a general and another soldier.
The incident was reported as it unfolded, according to Buratai, giving the media and military an opportunity to provide first-hand accounts rather than allowing insurgent narratives to dominate the information space.
“Those issues were reported live, and we now broke the Boko Haram information and media propaganda back, so they could no longer have the monopoly to tell the world, to spread rumours.”
The episode illustrates the former Army Chief's broader argument that credible, timely reporting can become part of the wider contest over public information during security operations.
Defence Journalism And National Security
Beyond battlefield reporting, Buratai described defence journalism as an important instrument for informing Nigerians about the challenges, achievements and prospects of the defence sector.
He commended defence correspondents for their contribution to reporting security operations and called for the military-media relationship to be sustained in the interest of national development and security.
The emphasis, however, is not simply on greater access. The experience Buratai recalled points to a continuing need for a relationship in which military institutions communicate responsibly while journalists provide accurate and contextual reporting on security developments.
DECAN’s Annual Lecture Takes Shape
The visit to Buratai also served a formal purpose, with DECAN President Odita Sunday informing him of his nomination and invitation to serve as Guest Lecturer at the association's 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards ceremony.
Odita said Buratai's experience in military leadership, national defence and security matters would contribute to discussions around emerging threats, technology and intelligence in contemporary security operations.
He said the annual lecture would bring together policymakers, security professionals, journalists, academics and other stakeholders to examine Nigeria's evolving security environment.
The ceremony will also recognise individuals and institutions whose contributions have advanced national security, defence and responsible journalism in Nigeria.
The Strategic Value Of A Credible Information Partnership
The exchange between Buratai and DECAN places the military-media relationship within a larger national-security conversation: modern security operations are conducted not only on physical terrain but also within an information environment where competing narratives can shape public confidence and perceptions of military effectiveness.
For Nigeria, the challenge is to sustain a credible information partnership in which timely communication supports public understanding without compromising operational considerations, while professional journalism ensures that security reporting remains accurate, responsible and grounded in verifiable developments.
That balance gives defence journalism a role that extends beyond recording military events. It becomes part of the broader national effort to ensure that Nigerians understand both the realities of the security environment and the institutional response to it.
🏷️ Tags: Tukur Buratai, Defence Correspondents, Nigerian Army, Military Information, Counterinsurgency, Defence Journalism, National Security
#ZigOriginals #ZigDiariesDefence #Nigeria #TukurBuratai #DefenceJournalism #Counterinsurgency #NationalSecurity
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