In its continuous efforts to safeguard the nation, the Nigerian Army said it remains committed to conducting combat operations against violent armed groups, insurgents, and criminal elements within the country.
With the rising security challenges across the country, the force ensures that its operations are carried out professionally, maintaining a strong focus on upholding the human rights of all citizens.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who gave the assurance at opening of the Third Edition of the Nigerian Army (NA)Human Right Seminar in Lagos, saying the Army upholds the protection of rights of the Nigerian citizens during the conduct of operations.
General Lagbaja who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, stated that on his assumption of office as COAS, he immediately authorized a periodic conduct of seminars on Human Rights to be organized across the country to help personnel of the force understand how to protect the citizens.
The Army Chief noted that the military desires to harness the potential of all stakeholders within the multidimensional operating environment to achieve the aim of winning the confidence, support and commitment of the civil population to activities of the force towards further upholding human rights in the country.
The COAS also said it was deliberate that Lagos State which is the hotbed for Human Rights, Civil Society Organizations, the Media and other relevant stakeholders was selected as the venue for the seminar as a result of recent happenings in the country and across the world.
He therefore, hoped that the seminar would bring out the perspectives of participants in developing pathways towards achieving our national security objectives,while the security forces conduct operations in line with the provisions of relevant laws.
The Army Chief also appreciated the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu for his continuous support and strategic guidance to the Nigerian Army.
Similarly, the Special Guest of Honour at the event, Justice Mojeed Adekunle Owoade (Rtd), commended the leadership of the Nigerian Army for rising to the challenge of a changing security situation by organizing a seminar on a topic of such importance. He said that as countries and situations evolve, institutions of the State like the Army must also evolve to meet the challenges of the time.
The retired justice therefore added that at a time when the Army is deployed in many cities and communities, contending with insecurity, the NA deemed it appropriate to organize a seminar on Human Rights.
He emphasized that while society could only function smoothly when individual freedoms and rights are upheld,”there is always the need to protect the rights of one individual against the freedoms of another”.
In his address earlier, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (CCMA) Major General Nosakhare Ugbo in welcoming the participants to the seminar said that the third edition of the Seminar on human rights is in line with the COAS’s Command philosophy which is, “to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force capable of carrying out it’s constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment”.
He said that upholding human rights has always been included in the code of conduct and Rules of Engagements for troops of the NA.
He further said that while the army continues to carryout disciplinary measures to deter personnel, it has also embarked on a massive campaign to sensitize troops on the need to uphold human rights as a fundamental requirement to enhance mission accomplishment in counter Insurgency and internal security operations.