Days of secrecy in military gone, says defence spokesman

Mimiko commends Army over support for democracy

The Director of Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Major General Rabe Abubakar, yesterday said the era of secrecy in the Nigerian military was over.

Abubakar stated this during a courtesy visit to the Bayelsa Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Yenagoa.

The defence spokesman said the openness of the military was responsible for his tour of media houses and interaction with relevant stakeholders in the six geo-political zones of the country, including the Niger Delta region.

According to Abubakar, “From North East, I moved to the North West where I interacted with all the media houses there. Now, I am in the Niger Delta to have a chat with the media executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.”

Abubakar solicited for partnership and collaboration of journalists in the Niger Delta area to enable the military to succeed in its operations in the region.

“We need ourselves for this great country to move forward. We have responsibility to protect the lives of innocent citizens. It is only then that we can move the country away from crisis. Our duty as military is to ensure total peace not only in the Niger Delta, but in all areas where we have operations,” he said.

The defence spokesperson also explained that Operation Delta Safe was inaugurated to check activities of persons destroying oil and gas facilities in the region.

In a related development, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has commended the Federal Government for the recent feat against Boko Haram.

Mimiko stated this yesterday during the launch of this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure.