The Nigerian Military has said that, there is a significant improvement in the protection of rights of victims of insurgency during counter insurgency operations.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, stated this at the National Colloquium on human rights in counter insurgency operations in Nigeria.
The Colloquium was organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.l
General Irabo represented by Rear Admiral AO Ayobanjo said : “The communities where the insurgents or Terrorist secure as their enclaves, often turns out to be arm struggle between government forces and the insurgents.”
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This he said, makes people in the communities highly vulnerable to the actions of both insurgents and government forces in which the right to life and liberty, among other rights of the people in such communities is easily violated.
The Executive Secretary National Human Rights commission in Nigeria, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, said the commission is worried by the report of incessant Human Rights violations during counter insurgency operations.
“The National Human Rights Commission is worried about reports of incessant violations of the human rights of civilian populations in military operations. We are also concerned about the operations of the Civilian Joint Task Force and other associated non-state vigilante and support groups who are assisting in the operations in the North-East.
“we look forward to working with the Nigerian Armed Forces to integrate human rights into its counter-insurgency operations and to strengthen its existing complaints and accountability mechanisms.
“The Commission acknowledges the existing Rules of Engagement, the Code of Conduct and other efforts of the military in developing frameworks for the protection of human rights.”
Also speaking, the Chairperson governing Council of National Human Rights Commission Dr. Salamatu Suleiman said, the Colloquium on Human Rights on Counter Insurgency operations, will sensitize the state agents and other stakeholders on the need to mainstream human rights, while countering insurgency in different parts of Nigeria.
“The National Human Rights Commission has a statutory mandate for promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.”
“Its responsibility is to ensure that the state adheres to its obligations and responsibilities in line with international best practices.”
