● Social media used to incite violence during #EndSARS protests — NSA
The federal government on Wednesday said it had developed a Mobile Applications called “Mobilizer” which Nigerian youths and a majority of the grassroots populace, could download on their phones to report crimes and criminalities in real time, wherever they were located.
“The application would assist security agencies comprising the Nigerian Police, the military and other security agencies to timeously swing into actions to track and apprehend criminals and bring them to book”.
This is just as the Coordinator, National Centre for Counter Terrorism, Major General Adamu Laka has urged the Nigerian Media “to use your medium of communications to promote mutual trust, build unity among Nigerians and adequately counter the destructive ideologies and narratives of terrorist groups.”
The Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Issa Lanre-Onilu, disclosed the new app at National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, on Wednesday during a meeting with the media.
The meeting, which was convened by the National Coordinator, Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka, also had in attendance, a former spokesperson of the Defence headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Olukolade (retd); and Head of Strategic Communications in the ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa among others.
Speaking at the meeting, NOA DG, represented by the Director of Press, Paul Odenyi noted that if youths were in the know about a lot of lofty programmes the government has in place for them, they would embrace them and won’t engage in any form of violence.
His words, “We know and are aware that it is very important to carry youth along in whatever programmes we do. I want to, therefore use this medium to inform you that at the National Orientation Agency, we now have an App called ‘Mobiliser’, where Nigerian youth can report crimes and criminalities in first hand, in real time”.
In his welcome remarks, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Laka, disclosed that the Center views the media as critical partners in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes, hence it was expedient for both the media and the security agencies to be on the same page.
He said, “The Centre, in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in June this year conducted a 2-day training on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting.
“While we count on your support and cooperation as the last gatekeepers hence all media contents are often published by your consent, it is in your place and sacred duty to take full control and effectively use your medium of communications to promote mutual trust, build unity among Nigerians and adequately counter the destructive ideologies and narratives of terrorist groups.
“There is no doubt that Media contents have been well employed in the past to enlighten and reengineer the mind.
“They carry messages that encourage respect for human dignity, appreciation of our diversity, inspire loyalty and love of service for fatherland.”
Former spokesperson of Nigerian Army, and also Defence headquarters, Major8 Gen Olukolade reiterated that it was important for critical stakeholders which include media to change the narratives about the country. [Vanguard]
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