Fake News Breeds Election Violence, Threaten Army Operations – Buratai
During the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s visit to the 16 Brigade Camp at Elebele on the outskirts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while addressing military personnel, he said that fake news was to blame for worsening violence during elections in the country and this was putting military operations in jeopardy.
The army chief however informed them that the army authorities were not sitting down on the issue as they had set up a situation room real-time, commanded by its cyber warfare unit, to deal with the menace decisively during the last set of polls. He promised that the army would continue to support the lead forces to halt election violence.
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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was at the 16 Brigade Barracks to inaugurate several ongoing projects, including an Integrated Medical Centre, Quarter Guard, 30 flats for junior officers, among several others under the leadership of Brig. Gen Kevin Aligbe, Commander of the Brigade.
Buratai, was represented by Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Adeku Salihu.
“Permit me to draw your attention to the Nigerian Army’s role in supporting the lead security agencies in the electioneering process.
“We had earlier launched Operation Safe Conduct and the army Situation Room to ensure real-time monitoring of events.
“This was borne out of our previous unpalatable experiences occasioned by electoral violence which has now been made worse by fake news.
“Fake news and false propaganda hold a dangerous threat to both the electoral process and military operations. The use of the media, especially social media to spread fake news should be a source of concern to all of us.
“Rapid spread of fake news has been responsible for misinformation and having an influence on public sentiments, sowing confusion among the electorate and igniting violence during elections,” Buratai said.
