Upholding human rights pivotal in countering insurgency, COAS says
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Thursday said that upholding human rights of the population was pivotal in countering insurgency, terrorism and defeating insecurity in Nigeria.
Lagbaja said this at the Third Nigerian Army Human Rights Seminar with the theme: “Human Rights and National Security: A Strategic Balance”, which held at 81 Division, Officers Mess, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
He was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Mijinyawa.
The COAS said that the Nigerian Army conducted combat operations to protect Nigerians from various violent armed groups, insurgents, criminal elements and other security challenges.
Lagbaja said that the army had devised two-pronged strategies that would ensure that they carried out their operations professionally while upholding the human rights of the people.
“First, we organise workshops to sensitise troops across all formations on the paramount need to uphold the human rights of the civil population in the conduct of combat operations.
“This is not just because it is the position of the law, but because it is a requirement for operational success.
“We believe that all our combat successes will come to naught if we lose out in the competition for the hearts and minds of the people,” he said.
The COAS said that the second aspect of the strategy was to deepen interaction between the Nigerian Army, civil society organisations, human rights advocacy groups, the media and other stakeholders.
“We also desire to harness the potentials of all stakeholders within the multidimensional operating environment to achieve the confidence, support and commitment of the civil population to our activities.
“While it is required to tackle various armed groups disturbing the peace of the country, tackling them can be done without necessarily abusing the rights of law-abiding citizens,” he said.
Lagbaja added that there were many non-combatants in the operating environment who were important stakeholders in the fight against violent armed groups, insurgents and other criminal elements.
“These non-combatants must be protected and allowed to conduct their operations in furtherance of our collective desires for a safe and secured country.
“We have therefore stepped up our engagement with these actors within our theatres of operations in line with international best practices to effectively confront our common adversaries,” he said.
“Our troops have therefore been continually sensitised on the imperatives of adhering to the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and the International Human Rights Law,” he said.
The COAS said that the complexities of contemporary security environment and the requirements for security personnel to ensure national security objectives while upholding human rights, demanded a delicate balance.
“The importance of this delicate and interrelated essentials informed the selection of the theme for this edition of the seminar.
“I believe this theme is apt and will give us the leverage to explore the linkages and relevance of the two delicate essentials; Human Rights and National Security,” he said.
Lagbaja thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continuous support and strategic guidance to the Nigerian Army.
He reassured the nation that the Nigerian Army would continue to do its utmost best within available resources to carryout its constitutional responsibilities while upholding the human right of the people.
However, one of the lecturers at the seminar, retired Maj.-Gen. Jide Ogunlade said that the society mostly misconcepted the military because they lacked understanding of their mode of operation.
“All of the time we are called out to do the responsibilities of the police and people do not know that there is a difference between the office of the Nigerian Police and the military.
“So, bringing us to contain internal security threats is watering down the military’s capacity and capabilities as exclusive reserve to contain external aggression,” he said.
Ogunlade said that the solution to correct this societal misconception of the military was to ensure that the police are developed to that level where they could carry out their responsibilities.
“We have to make sure that we enhance the police to play their role, so that the military can play their role as external defenders of the country’s territory.
“Otherwise, as long as the military is being brought out to play the police role, there will be issues or clash of human rights and the military.
“The military is not the enemy of the people and we are the most patriotic of Nigerians,” the retired major general said.
