JTF Commander seeks media support in fighting Oil theft, insecurity in N/Delta

The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta on Tuesday enlisted the support of the media in its fight against oil theft and insecurity in the region.

Commander of the joint military force codenamed Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade noted that the media was a critical stakeholder in security of the nation.

Akinrinade, spoke when the executives of the Federated Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited the headquarters of the JTF at Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

He urged the media not to report the security agencies in the country to enhance the confidence of the people their capacity and to refrain from glorifying crime in their reportage.

He harped on the need for balanced and investigative stories, which he said can also help in addressing the security challenges in the country and also help to inform and guide the security operatives in their investigations.

He promised to partner the media, especially in terms of supporting training to be conversant with reporting security information accurately.

He said Operation Delta Safe remains committed to secure government critical infrastructures, oil facilities and to provide a safe and peaceful atmosphere for legitimate economic activities to thrive.

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Earlier, the Chairman of Federated Correspondents' Chapel, Mr Julius Osahon, said the visit was to collaborate with the security organization to ensure continuous peace in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large.

Osahon noted that journalists in the Niger Delta faced enormous challenges due to the difficult swampy and coastal terrain making navigation extremely difficult and required the protection of security agencies in doing their jobs.