The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has emphasized that while weapons may win battles, truth and trust ultimately win wars.
Speaking at the opening of the Directorate of Army Public Relations’ Combined Third and Fourth Quarters Media Training Seminar in Abuja, Oluyede highlighted the importance of responsible media reportage in strengthening national security and sustaining public confidence in the Armed Forces. The seminar’s theme was “Enhancing Responsible Media Reportage of Nigerian Army Operations in a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment for Enhanced National Security.”
Represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General Mohammed Tanimu Abdullahi, the Army Chief said the theme reflects the essential role of accountability, balance, and responsibility in media coverage of military operations, especially in a joint environment where collaboration among security agencies is vital.
He said, “Let us remember that while weapons win battles, truth and trust win wars. Our collective mission is to ensure that the Nigerian public remains accurately informed, confident in its Armed Forces, and united behind the cause of national security.”
Oluyede noted that in today’s information-driven world, the battle for hearts and minds is as crucial as combat on the field. He warned that fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes threaten national cohesion and operational integrity, calling on the media to help counter misinformation and promote verified facts.
“Victory today is not won solely on the battlefield; it is increasingly fought in the information domain where narratives, perceptions, and public confidence are decisive,” he added, stressing that synergy between the Army and the media is a strategic necessity, not a convenience.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, described the media training as a crucial platform to strengthen military-media cooperation in tackling hybrid threats and disinformation.
She said, “There is no doubt that warfare is no longer fought solely with weapons but also in the information space. To defeat misinformation, we must counter falsehoods with verified facts, replace propaganda with truth, and ensure that the Nigerian public is accurately informed.”
Anele urged journalists and media practitioners to uphold professionalism, ethics, and patriotism in reporting issues concerning national security.
