By THOMPSON YAMPUT

The Commander, 12 Brigade Nigeria Army, Brig.-Gen. Kassim Umar-Sidi, has expressed concern over negative reporting of military activities, stating that it ?dampens? the moral of soldiers.

The commander gave the call while receiving the Executive Council members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi, during a courtesy call on him in his office, Lokoja.

Umar-Sidi noted that making derogatory remarks against Nigeria because of the security challenges it was facing, is not encouraging to the gallant soldiers staking their lives to defend the country.

?Our officers and men are being killed in the sacrifice they are making to keep this nation safe.

?Any negative perception or report against our men or the military in general, dampens their morale.

?Therefore, people should not put issues on the prism of religion, which cannot help us move forward as a nation,? he advised.

The Commander further advised, ?Whenever there a challenge, we should, as a people, put heads together to see how best we can solve them for the growth and development of the country.?

While commending the chapel?s EXCO for the courtesy visit, he pledged the command?s readiness to partner with the correspondents toward the dissemination of its activities to the general public.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the chapel, Mr Segun Salami of the Channels TV, told the commander that the EXCO was in his office to solicit for partnership toward publicising activities and efforts being made the brigade in securing the people of Kogi and passengers by.

Salami said that the military, especially the 12 brigade command, was doing a lot in Kogi in the area of dealing with kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists but such good strides were under reported.

?I want to assure you that the Correspondents Chapel is very ready to partner with you and give the command the desired publicity,? he stated. (NAN)

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