THE Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has accused the Nigerian media of blowing out of proportion the activities of the Boko Haram sect.Petinrin, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chief of Defence Staff, told The Guardian in Abuja that the media exaggerate the activities of the group writing stories that are unexpected from a responsible press.He said there is no crime-free society in the world and asked those seeking such haven to go to heaven.'The problem we have in Nigeria is that' particularly you members of the press. The way you report is unbecoming, you are not helping the situation at all. Because even when there is absolutely no need to exaggerate, you exaggerate. And make things look much worse than it actually is,' he said.Petinrin said Nigeria is not the only country where a terrorist group attacked an international organisation, but the media collaborated with the governments of these countries to overcome the challenge.'This is not the only country where an international agency has being attacked, it happened in Kenya, it happened in the United States (U.S.) and several other places, but they rallied round and defeated it, with the help of everybody including journalists.'The Defence boss contended that the rather unscientific summation that there is insecurity in Nigeria is misplaced and grossly misinforming. He asked rhetorically: 'Out of the 36 states in Nigeria, how many states are insecure. If you are saying that you want a totally crime-free society, you have to go to heaven. If there is a crime in one state, it does not mean there is an insurgency or a threat to national security. But Nigerian journalists are not patriotic in the reportage, be positive in your reporting, I'm not saying you should lie'' he said.He said normal business and social activities are going on in Plateau and Borno States, asking, 'have you been to Jos this morning (Tuesday) or even this week or have you been to Maiduguri to see the volume of activities going on''When asked if the percentage of states affected determines the context within which insecurity in the country should be gauged, he countered that every state is important, but the situation is definitely under control. 'The security agencies are tackling it, in fact they are working on it everyday.'Meanwhile, the Anglican Diocesan Bishop of Calabar, Rev. Tunde Adeleye, has faulted the Federal Government's plan to dialogue with the Islamic sect.Adeleye told journalists in Calabar that dialogue would not solve the crisis.He charged the government to get tough with the sect and allow the law to hold sway.
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