NUJ and Army 1 Division agree to share security information in Kaduna

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna and the Nigerian Army's 1 Division have agreed to work more closely on kidnapping and other security threats in Kaduna State and the wider North-West.

The pledge came on Tuesday when Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the division's Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, visited the NUJ council in Kaduna. Abdullahi recently took up the post, and his area covers Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa states.

He described journalists as critical partners in promoting peace and security, and said security was a collective responsibility that the military could not handle alone.

"Security is everybody's business. The military, the police, the media and members of the public all have important roles to play," Abdullahi said.

He said the media mattered in war and in peacetime, adding that it was the media that consolidates gains made by other sectors.

Concerns raised about Southern Kaduna and city outskirts

NUJ Kaduna chairman Abdulgafar Alabelewe congratulated Abdullahi on his promotion to colonel and his posting to 1 Division. He said the army remains a key security institution for Kaduna and the North-West, and thanked the military and other agencies for the relative peace in the state.

But he also raised concern over persistent security problems in parts of Southern Kaduna and reported kidnappings on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, particularly around Millennium City and Yakowa Road.

Alabelewe said some residents find it hard to take security information directly to security agencies, which makes responsible reporting and cooperation with journalists important.

"Whenever we go into the field and have information of security interest, we will always pass such information through you to the Division," he told the army spokesman.

He said a secure environment is needed for journalism and for development, and promised the union would keep supporting peace efforts.

Abdullahi also met defence correspondents in Kaduna, where he asked for their support in improving relations between the military and the media.

What happens next

The two sides did not announce any new security operation or funding. The agreement is mainly about sharing information: the NUJ says its members will pass security tips to the division, and the army says it will keep the public informed through the press.

For residents of areas like Millennium City and parts of Southern Kaduna, where kidnappings have been reported, the practical test will be whether that channel brings faster response. Neither side gave figures on recent attacks or abductions.