The Defence Headquarters on Friday confirmed that troops were indeed given directives to search newspaper distribution vans for “materials with grave security implications.”
A statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, however said the exercise had nothing to do with the contents or operations of the affected newspaper organisations or their personnel.
The statement reads in part: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organizations or their personnel as it is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press.
“The military appreciates and indeed respects the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and the overall advancement of our country’s democratic credentials. As such, the military will not deliberately and without cause, infringe on the freedom of the press.
“The general public and the affected media organizations in particular are assured that the exercise was a routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive.”
Source: The nation
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