The African Bar Association is collaborating with the Defence Headquarters to tackle security challenges facing African Militaries and Civil Society Actors.
The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor represented by Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Muhammad Nagenu disclosed this during the 2022 Maiden Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies Law Conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Theme of the conference is “Enhancing the Operational Capacity of African Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies Law as a vital instrument.”
General Irabor said that “some of the security challenges are insurgency, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and a separate agitation among others.”
He noted that these security challenges usually perpetrated by non state actors are referred to as being asymmetric required spatial responses other than the conventional one.
According to him, this entire spectrum force required that the military will generate new approaches in containing and eliminating disputes.
“One of the areas of importance in this regard is compliance with legal regime instruments in the military and security operations,” he added.
The President of the African Bar Association, Hannibal Esq said that “the idea of an Armed Forces and other Security Agencies Conference stems from the very many complex security challenges facing the Continent.”
According to him, although the problems mainly arising from Economic, Political and States in Africa Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and many other violent attacks are a daily occurrence in most Countries within the Continent.
He noted that the complex natures of these conflicts often complicated by bad governance and religious bigotry have made it difficult for the Armed Forces and Security Agencies to bring the situation under control.
The Chairman, Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies Committee, African Bar Association, Major General Shalangwa made a brief remark on the establishment and mandate of Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He said that “the Armed of Nigeria is a legal entity established by the Constitution of Nigeria as well as Armed Forces act.”
“It is a professional force that has legal services created by the law.”
The Conference had the representatives of the Nigerian service Chiefs, delegates from African countries, Lawyers, Leadership of the African Bar Association, special dignitaries, Serving and retired Senior Military Officers, other Security Agencies, Resource Persons and participants.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
