Women under the aegis of Mothers for United Nigeria (MUN), on Sunday lamented the loss of military personnel whom they referred to as their husbands and women during fight against banditry, insurgency and other criminalities in the country.
The women, through their Publicity Secretary, Hajia Salamatu Adebayo in a statement made available to Defence correspondents in Abuja, however, demanded strong support from Nigerians for the military personnel across all theatres of operations.
“As mothers, we have suffered loss of husbands and children, especially military personnel who are daily paying the ultimate sacrifice for the unity and peace of our country. We must continue to support and not vilify them,” Hajia Adebayo said.
MUN, while commending the media for its support for the military and its resolve to uphold national interest, urged the practitioners against sensational journalism in times of national crisis, adding that any sensational report is capable of inciting the government and people of the country against the military.
The group was reacting to a report quoting the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor as saying that the Nigerian Armed Forces have not been able to holistically tackle the perennial issues of banditry and terrorism in the country because personnel are not trained for such unconventional battle.
It said, “We are not here to speak for the Nigerian military, but to solicit for understanding for all to come behind the military at this particular time in the history of our country. We counsel some sections of the press who are in a hurry to do their report, to verify such before going public.”
