Army Chief Tasks Commanders On Protection Of Civilians

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has said the protection of civilians and their basic rights requires special attention and takes up a lot of field commanders' time.

He said securing a nation within the contemporary security environment required the citizens’ support.

Lagbaja stated this in his remarks at the maiden edition of Nigerian Army seminar on human rights with the theme, "National security and the complexities of human rights" yesterday, in Abuja.

The COAS who was represented by the chief of administration Army, Major General Jimmy Akpor said the seminar was conceptualised to engage organisations, security agencies, media and other stakeholders involved in human rights advocacy and the protection of civilians in conflict areas on the issues relating to human rights during conflicts.

"I wish to state that securing a country within the ambit of a contemporary security environment involves harnessing the efforts of citizens in a ‘whole of the nation approach’ because the operations are conducted within civilian populated areas.

"The protection of civilians and their basic rights requires special attention as it takes up a lot of field commanders' time.

"This aspect of warfare and conflict management requires the harnessing of the potentials of other actors within the multi-dimensional operating environment". He said Nigeria's contemporary operating environment is volatile and complex as the global environment increasingly becomes more connected and ambiguous.