# #ArmedForcesRemembranceDay: The Nigerian Military Needs Public and Media Support.

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/01/armedforcesremembranceday-the-nigerian-military-needs-public-and-media-support/
- Published: 2021-01-15T08:19:31+01:00
- Author: Adesogan Ayodeji

The Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day holds on 15th January every year, a special
day set aside to remember service personnel that paid the supreme sacrifice during
the 2nd World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and other past, and present operations
within and outside Nigeria. Religious services to commemorate the remembrance day
are held on the last Sunday for Church services and last Friday for Juma’at prayers
which are preceding to the D-day when both National and Regimental Colors are carried
on a colorful ceremonial military parade.

Nigerians within and those in diaspora do celebrate and remembered the sacrifices
of our servicemen and women including the fallen heroes who fought selflessly and
gallantly for a peaceful and united Nigeria. They speak to give silence, they train
to get fit, they kill to live, they live to kill, confidence and respect is not 
sold in the World Trade Centre. Who else could challenge armed enemies in the face
of death? if not our gallant troops, they do not see death as threat, it’s an obstacle
they always cross so as to be a valiant compatriot whose name will never be washed
away in the face of a million flood. Their family and friends are far away from 
them. What else could be so honourable than to defend your Fatherland. They suppress
those who oppress, to impress the depressed, defend the defenseless. Field they 
sleep, sea they sail, sky they soar, to tread on the wings of the octopus and give
peace to our people. They will fight till they die, sail till they sink, soar till
they crash to restore anomie to normalcy. The Nigerian tri-service, Army, Navy &
Airforce, stand as one in togetherness for the most populous black nation.

However, the Nigerian Military need more public and media support in the ongoing
counter insurgency war in the North-East, militancy in the  South-South, banditry
in the NorthWest zones as well as other internal security operations across the 
country. The recent giant strides of the military has rekindle our hope in our armed
forces in defending the defenseless citizens against insecurity and threats to national
security. We must be guided to understand that the nature of terrorism does not 
give rooms to some of the uninformed assertions, sentimentalisation and politicisation
that we are making online and offline. We need to encourage our gallant military
to do more in mobilising greater force, sustainable attacks, proactive engagements
and decimation of these merchants of death called BokoHaram, ISWAP, Bandits, armed
robbers and other unscrupulous elements including their collaborators and sympathisers
in order to completely root them out and destroy their networks of local and international
support.

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![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/armed-forces-remembrance-day-2021-
EMBLEM-1.jpe)

Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem for 2021

The citizens and the media should know that the Nigerian Military is their Military
and whatever affects it has direct consequences on national security. The Nigerian
Armed Forces and other security agencies have continued their major operations across
the country with renewed vigor, unnecessary distraction and campaign of calumny 
against the military in the media, especially social media will not be in the best
interest of our nation. It is important to mention the existence of a blurry line
between media freedom and National Security. Journalists as the representatives 
of the fourth estate of the realm are to guard against possible harms from unauthorized
disclosures of information which are potentially harmful. It is the duty of a journalist
to know which information(s) to be shared publicly and what truly should remain 
secret in the interest of National Security and Operations Security. There is a 
need for a clear understanding that peace and development can only take place when
there is security of lives and properties and we can’t have freedom where the state
is non-existent.

Information gate keepers and journalists at large should always inculcate the attitude
of information and operations security in their daily routine for the sake of National
Security. Margaret Thatcher’s once said that “Publicity is the oxygen of terrorism
as terrorist organisations and enemies-within sought to spread their messages and
instil fear in the public through the reach of mass media outlets.

Beyond the annual rituals of coming out to pour emotional tributes on social media
to our national heroes that lost their lives on the battle line while defending 
our beloved Motherland, the Federal Government (FG) should be more committed to 
the welfare of the families of our fallen heroes, through economic empowerment programmes
for their widows and educational scholarship for their children. In doing so, FG
could set in motion for the establishment of Veteran Support Commission to institutionalise
the above mentioned. While prompt payment of service personnel entitlements and 
improved welfare condition are also important. Citizens on their part should empathise
with the sufferings of our Armed Forces by showing respect, love and kindness to
them in both private and public space.

In conclusion, as we continue to remember our fallen and living heroes, Nigerians
should come together and support our military to succeed in its constitutional responsibilities
and all hands must be on deck by being vigilant and cooperate with our military 
and other security agencies by availing them credible and timely information to 
help their operations. Nigerians should be proud of our military, in line with what
is obtained in other saner climes.

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