JTF partners media on peace in N/Delta

Category: News Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 06:00 Written by Chris Eze, Yenagoa

Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Puolo Shield in Niger Delta Major General Bata Abubakar Dabiro says the media is a critical partner in the task to rid the Niger Delta region of criminal elements sabotaging the economy of the country.

The commander, who stated this when he led other members of the high command of the JTF on a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State council, urged journalists to join forces with the JTF through their reportage to expose the activities of oil bunkerers and others who engage in piracy or pipeline vandalization.

Members of the JTF, he said, are human beings who do not claim monopoly of knowledge, and hence requires the services of journalists to do their job better.

He tasked the union to go beyond the daily reportage in the newspapers and provide a more practical way of dealing with the menace of the criminals destroying the economic prosperity of the country and assured that the military high command would sponsor such research.

Major General Dabiro also assured that the JTF under his command would continue to do its best to fight criminals, saying that they are open to suggestions.

Chairman of the union Akono Arinyo assured the commander of the continuous support of the NUJ and commended the JTF for the peace that has returned to the state.

He tasked the JTF to be more proactive in policing the creeks of the Niger Delta so as to flush out the pirates making life very difficult for the residents.