NHRC: Military Personnel now Observe Human Rights in their Operations.
From right to left: Mr. Harry Obe Director Economic, Social and Cultural rights NHRC, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson Dada Deputy Chief of Staff Civil-Military Relations 7 Division Nigerian Army, Mr. Benedict Agu Director Monitoring National Human Rights Commission and Ramsey Bryant Senior Protection Sector Coordinator UNHCR Maiduguri Sub Office during a two-day training on Mainstreaming Human Rights in Maiduguri.
By Dauda Iliya
The Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission Mr Tony Ojukwu has charged the military to always respect human rights in their operations in order to win the hearts and minds of the civil population.
Mr. Ojukwu gave the charge during a training on mainstreaming human rights and civilian protection into counter insurgency operations in the North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states held in Maiduguri.
Representated by the Director Monitoring Department of the Commission Mr. Benedict Agu, the Executive Secretary said the training was organised for key military officers involved in the counter insurgency operations in the region to sustain the gains so far recorded.
According to him, the training will not only reduce casualty level during operations but also reduce the humanitarian consequences of internal displacement and protection challenges.
“Since we started this training in 2015, I will tell you that officers and men have done very well in mainstreaming humanitarian and civilian protection in their operations across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states” Mr Ojukwu declared.
Mr. Tony Ojukwu saluted the gallantry of officers and men in the frontline and condole with the Armed forces and families of those who lost their lives in defence of humanity.
Director economic, social and cultural rights of the National Human Rights Commission Mr. Harry Obe observed that with the creation of human rights desk in military formations, civilians now have access to report cases of violations, while officers and soldiers on their part are now more conscious in their operations.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR Senior Protection Coordinator, Maiduguri sub Office Ramsey Bryant noted that the North East region has alot of protection issues, urging the participants to prioritize the protection of Persons-of-Concern.
Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Civil-Military relations, Seven Division Nigerian Army Lieutenant Colonel Johnson Dada advised the participants to take the training seriously.
The two-day training was organised by the National Human Rights Commission with the collaboration of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
