Army inaugurates human rights desk for North-East operations

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday inaugurated a human rights desk to bolster its military engagements in the North East.

Major General Nuhu Angbazo, the Head of Civil-Military Relations in the Army Headquarters, said the unit was located at the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, based in Maiduguri.

According to him, the human rights desk is to promote good human practices and boost civil-military relations in the counter-insurgency campaign of the armed forces.

“We have put in place a human rights desk at the headquarters and the same unit is set up at the 7 Division in Maiduguri.

“Arrangements are on to deploy personnel for effective management of the unit.

“This is in line with our vision of maintaining a professional and responsible Nigerian Army.”

Angbazo explained that sensitisation on human rights was designed to educate soldiers on fundamental human rights issues to guide them in the discharge of their duties.

He said that establishing the desk was also to promote mutual relations between the military and its stakeholders in the counter-insurgency operation.

“There is a need to remind ourselves human rights principles to be able to discharge our constitutional duties without hindrance.

“Military authorities accord priority to human rights issues in protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and promoting civil rule,” Angbazo added.

Also speaking, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Ibrahim, the Acting Commander of the 7 Division, commended the army headquarters for sensitizing the military on human rights.

Ibrahim noted that knowledge was imperative to promoting professionalism in the discharge of military duties.

He called on soldiers to use what they learnt on human rights issues to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.