Army bars print media from covering Jos event, after invitation

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has overruled the decision of the Army Public Relations Department of the 3 Division, Jos, that invited both the print and electronic media to cover an event at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment yesterday.

Buratai decreed that print media are excluded from the event, emphasising that only the Plateau Radio Television (PRTV) and the Channels Television should cover it.

Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the Division, Major Ikechukwu Eze, who had invited many journalists for the event, said the COAS later changed his mind.

Eze told The Guardian that, on his side, the last order had to be obeyed.

When the invitations were issued to both print and electronic media to cover the opening ceremony of the event yesterday, The Guardian called to find out whether those invited should find their way to the cantonment.

That was when the bombshell was dropped.

The event, the maiden edition of the Nigerian Army Women’s Corps Training Week, holds from April 9 to 11 April at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos.

By the previous invitation, the COAS was expected to declare the event open, while Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, is the Special Guest of Honour.

Nigerian Army Women’s Corps was established to provide female personnel the opportunity to contribute effectively to national development and security of the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ebonyi State Council, has elected new officers to run its affairs for the next three years.

The new officers elected unopposed and inaugurated yesterday at NUJ Secretariat in Abakaliki, include Tony Nwizi of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) as chairman, Benjamin Nworie of Thisday newspaper (vice chairman) and Nnamdi Akpa (secretary).

While swearing in the seven-man exco, secretary of NUJ in charge of the Zone C (South East), Ken Ofoma, praised the Ebonyi chapter for a successful election and inauguration.

He tasked council members to lend their support to the new team, while urging the new executive not to allow their personal interest to override the collective interest of the union.