Stakeholders at a roundtable on “Safety and protection of journalists in the discharge of their professional responsibilities’’ on Thursday called for special military training for journalists covering conflicts.

They gave the recommendation in a communique issued at end of the roundtable organised by Borno Justice Sector Reform Team funded by the British Council’s Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) programme.

The communique signed by Mr Babagana Mustafa and Mrs Pauline Vana, also declared the need to embed journalists with troops in the frontline in the northeast.

“There is the need for special military training for journalists reporting conflict situations and embedding them with troops on the front line especially those in the theatre of counter insurgency operations in North-eastern Nigeria.

“The NUJ should provide a risk insurance scheme for members while media organisations do same for journalists on their payroll in case of injury, death, kidnapping or any related situation encountered in the line of duty.

“Public office holders, military commanders and other key sources of news need to understand and appreciate the role of journalists as partners rather.

“They need to understand that journalists are not enemies in the task of informing citizens on the truth and credible reportage of happenings.

“There is the need for the NUJ to collaborate with professional bodies such as the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in seeking justice and providing medical needs for members when such concerns arise.

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“Practicing journalists covering risky locations and conflict zones should make their personal safety, security and protection a priority at all times,’’ the communiqué stressed. (NAN)