Tukur Buratai discusses military media relations and Boko Haram propaganda

Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, has accepted an invitation to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Abuja.

During a meeting with a DECAN delegation, Buratai discussed how his administration transformed military-media relations by granting journalists direct access to operational theatres. He stated that this policy was a strategic move to break Boko Haram’s monopoly on information and counter the group's ability to use media for propaganda, misinformation, and demoralizing troops and citizens.

Buratai noted that allowing correspondents to witness military activities firsthand, including combat situations, provided credible reporting that denied insurgents the ability to control the narrative. He emphasized that timely and effective communication is essential to modern military strategy and national security.