The General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army and Commander of ‘Operation Safe Haven’, Major General Abdusalam Abubakar, has urged Nigerian Army troops to protect civilians’ rights nationwide.
General Abdusalam stated this at a one-day lecture organised by the force for Operation Safe Haven and 3 division troops in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, North Central Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, General Abdusalam said the lecture was in fulfilment of the Nigerian Army’s resolve to improve the professional capabilities of military personnel on internal security operations in the country.
“This event is very significant to the conduct as well as Operations of troops in an organised environment contributing to the peace-building efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in Operation Safe Haven joint operation area. The two lectures namely the protection of civilians and Torture and cruel treatment are important to the success of any military operation,” he said.
The general further stated that one of the responsibilities of any military organisation is to protect the lives of civilians confronted by internal and external strikes.
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“In Operation Safe Haven, Personnels have been inundated on the need to operate within the ambit of the law with maximum respect for the rule of law and the rights of our dear civilians. Consequently, it has been observed that tremendous successes has recorded through this action thereby boosting the confidence of the people and increasing the support for personnel in the conduct of our operations,” he added.
Speaking on the topic: “Torture and cruel treatment on civilians”, Lovina Agba of the office of the special adviser to the Chief of Defence Staff on Human Rights said as personnel in assessing the severity of torture inhumane treatment you look at the duration of the treatment.
“You look at the physical and mental effect it has on the individual then you also look at the gender. The level of endurance of a man being tortured cannot be compared to that of the woman therefore as Personnel you are entitled to your human rights just as the civilians but you must defend yourself without the ambit of the law it’s your duty as troops to respect, protect and fulfil observance of Human Rights of civilians,” she said.
Major Abba Goni of the Directorate of Legal Services, Nigerian Army, speaking on the topic, protection of civilians in the course of military operation major objective of the Military formation is the protection of civilians.
“The aim of this lecture is for troops to understand that they are obligated to protect civilians in the course of carrying out their legitimate duties. As troops it is pertinent that you remember your reason for being in the Military. If we have no civilians there would be no one for you to protect therefore I urge you to begin to dissuade your mindset,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the Chief of Defence Staff on Human Rights, Oluwole Akinsanya, noted that if attention is given to the topic discussed troops will perform credibly without implicating their superior by their actions.
The participants were drawn from ‘Operation Safe Haven’ and 3 Division.
