Outgoing OPHK commander lauds Zagazola other media for their courage, professionalism and objective coverage
By Zagazola Makama
The outgoing Theatre Commander, North East Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has commended the Zagazola Media Network and other media organisations for their courage, professionalism and objective coverage of the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East.
Abubakar gave the commendation on Tuesday during his farewell engagement with stakeholders in Maiduguri, as he formally handed over the command of Operation HADIN KAI to the incoming Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose.
The Theatre Commander specifically acknowledged the media’s consistent presence in the Theatre, including in some of the most difficult and remote operational locations, where journalists have continued to report the realities of the conflict and the efforts of troops, humanitarian actors and affected communities.
“To the gentlemen of the press, I thank you for your consistent presence in this Theatre and for helping the public appreciate both the cost and progress of this campaign,” Abubakar said.
He particularly recognised the efforts of journalists who had travelled to difficult frontline locations, including Kareto and Ngoshe, to document developments and bring the experiences of soldiers, communities and other stakeholders to the attention of the wider public.
“You reported from the most difficult locations, including Kareto, Ngoshe and other remote areas, bringing to light the stories of our troops, our partners and the communities we serve, and holding us to account where it mattered,” he said.
Commander praises Zagazola’s frontline coverage
Abubakar’s remarks amounted to a strong recognition of the role played by specialised security-focused media organisations, particularly the Zagazola Media Network, in keeping the public informed about developments in the North-East.
The Theatre Commander said the media had maintained what he described as fair, objective and unbiased reportage, noting that balanced reporting had helped the public better understand the realities of the counter-insurgency campaign.
“You have maintained fair, objective and unbiased reportage. Your balanced reporting has enlightened the populace, thereby discrediting fake news and terrorist propaganda,” he said.
His remarks underscored the importance of credible journalism in an operating environment where misinformation, disinformation and terrorist propaganda can influence public perception, undermine confidence and create confusion around security operations.
Rather than merely reporting battlefield developments, Abubakar noted that the media had also helped to tell the wider story of the conflict documenting the sacrifices of troops, the resilience of communities, the contributions of partners and the progress being made towards restoring normalcy.
The outgoing commander said responsible journalism remained critical to ensuring that the public understood both the challenges and progress of the military campaign.
He urged journalists to sustain the same standards of fairness, courage and professional responsibility under the incoming Theatre Commander.
“I urge you to continue covering this Theatre with the same fairness, courage and sense of responsibility you extended to me, and to accord the incoming Theatre Commander the same professional cooperation in the interest of peace in the North-East,” he said.
The appeal comes as Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose assumes command of Operation HADIN KAI with a pledge to sustain the gains recorded under his predecessor while strengthening collaboration with the Borno State Government, humanitarian organisations, international partners, hybrid forces and the media.
Ajose has also urged journalists to maintain fairness, accuracy and responsibility in reporting security developments, stressing that public confidence forms an important part of the operational environment.
“The good people of the North-East deserve information that informs, and not information that inflames,” Ajose said.
Beyond the battlefield
For more than a decade, the North-East conflict has required the media to operate in an environment where access to frontline communities is difficult, security conditions are unpredictable and information is often contested.
The recognition by the outgoing Theatre Commander therefore places particular emphasis on the responsibility of journalists operating in the Theatre to verify information, provide context and distinguish confirmed developments from claims circulated by combatants and other interested actors.
For Zagazola Media Network and other security-focused news organisations, frontline reporting has increasingly involved documenting military operations, humanitarian developments, the return of displaced persons, community resilience and the broader efforts to restore normal economic and social activities across affected areas.
Abubakar’s commendation also reinforced the principle that effective counter-insurgency communication is not solely the responsibility of the military.
Accurate and responsible journalism, public awareness and timely clarification of false information remain important elements in preventing terrorist propaganda and misinformation from gaining influence among communities.
As the command changes hands, the outgoing Theatre Commander urged the media to maintain the professional relationship established with the Theatre while holding the new leadership accountable through credible and responsible reporting.
He stated that the battle for the North-East is fought not only on the frontline, but also in the information space, where facts, credibility and responsible journalism remain critical to sustaining public confidence and supporting the broader quest for peace.
