President of the International Association of Women Judges and a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, has stated that it is important that there is accountability for war crimes and grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law.
She stated this at a Symposium organised by the Office of the National Adviser (ONSA) in Collaboration with the British High Commission with the theme ‘Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct and Accountability’, which was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Abuja.
While analysing the sub-themes of the Symposium: securing peace, ensuring justice, protection, conduct, and accountability is extremely important in the fight against counter-terrorism and securing peace.
Justice Nyako, while examining the relationship between military operatives, law enforcement, detention, and criminal prosecution calls to mind the different scenarios of war crimes and the accountability that needs to be taken into consideration.
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“So there is a challenge to authorities and then there is also the need for accountability by those in charge of securing peace and justice in particular regions. It is important that accountability is emphasised because like the General said, you need to have the confidence of the people that you are working with, for them to be able to be good informants to you.
“These insurgents live among us, they are not spirits coming from the sky on the days of attacks, I don’t comprehend how a large number of people in hundreds converge and move to carry out attacks on communities and the communities don’t know about it. I find it very difficult to phantom.”
She said a good informant capacity within the populace and the confidence that the populace has in the security agents, go a long way in the fight against insurgency.
“Accountability for war crimes and grave violations of human rights is essentially not only for justice, it’s for everybody. We need to be accountable for infractions of human rights, even in the course of war.
“The division of labor between military operatives, law enforcement, detention, and criminal prosecution is essential for maintaining an effective and just society. Each sector has distinct roles and responsibilities shaped by legal frameworks that seek to uphold national security while protecting individual rights.
“The interplay between these areas must be managed carefully to ensure cooperation and harmony while also preventing encroachment on civil liberties,” stated Justice Nyako.
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