”Stop Misleading The Public Deliberately” – DHQ Warns HURIWA

”Stop Misleading The Public Deliberately” – DHQ Warns HURIWA

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has advised  Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) to henceforth be passionate in seeking adequate information on issues of national importance and stop misleading the public deliberately,  noting strongly that the DHQ would take strong legal action should such mistake repeat itself. 

The DHQ through its acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in a statement signed on Monday started this while reacting to a statement credited to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and published by Guardian online Newspaper on 4 February 2024, faulting the formation of a Fact-Finding Team tasked to elicit practical workable solutions to the prolonged crisis in some parts of Nigeria Plateau State inclusive.  

According to DHQ, the Fact-Finding Team headed by an experienced retired senior military officer was constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, following  the deployment of military hardwares including highly trained intelligence personnel and special forces to troubled areas of the State to ensure perpetrators of dastardly attacks are brought to justice.

He noted that the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja also visited Plateau State on 27 January 2024 and gave the  troops  specific orders to deal decisively with those fermenting troubles leading to loss of lives and properties. 

The statement further explains that  recently,  numerous intelligence-driven operations have been conducted leading to the arrest of key suspects who are currently undergoing interrogation. 

“It is therefore pertinent to note, that the team was constituted as part of the non-kinetic approach of the DHQ in resolving the situation.  Also, the team’s responsibility spreads across troubled areas in the country and not limited to Plateau State alone.  

“The DHQ calls on HURIWA being one of the respected human rights group to cultivate the habit of seeking credible information on issues especially as it concerns National Security before approaching the media. 

“It is evident the group was ill-informed and could not spend time researching on efforts the military had made to restore normalcy in troubled areas of the country. 

“The DHQ would have naturally overlook the ignorance of HURIWA on this matter, but finds it necessary to educate civil society organizations on the responsible use of the media not to disseminate falsehoods and create tension where  non is existing. 

“The Chief of Defence  Staff  General Christopher  Gwabin Musa appreciates the support of the Nigerians to our troops in the field making unquantifiable sacrifices to ensure peace in our nation. The CDS is confident the troops will stamp out criminality in Plateau State and the country at large.” he stated