Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the general officer commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division in Enugu, has reaffirmed the army’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting fundamental human rights.
Mr Olatoye, also the force commander of Joint Task Force South-East “Operation UDO KA,” said this on Friday at the South-East Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security.
Mr Olatoye was represented by the commander of 105 Division Equipment Support, Brig.-Gen. Sadisu Buhari.
According to him, there’s a need to build an inclusive framework where security interventions align with democratic principles and respect for human dignity.
“May I also reiterate that the Nigerian Army and other services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria maintain zero tolerance for violations of fundamental human rights by their personnel?
“This is evident in the application of rules of engagement (RoE) as well as various codes of conduct for personnel and standard operating procedures (SOPs) regulating the conduct of troops deployed in internal security operations pursuant to section 217 (2) (c) of the constitution.
“The Nigerian Army further ensures that personnel are adequately trained in respect of human rights as enshrined in the code of conduct, RoEs, SOPs, and national and international laws,” he said.
The GOC said that the Nigerian Army established a civil human rights desk in all divisions to ensure the protection of these sacrosanct rights.
He said the 82 division had a dedicated call line—193 select option 2, which is manned 24 hours daily—for receiving complaints from the public.
The GOC noted that members of the general public should report any act of violation of human rights done, being or likely to be done by erring personnel to the Nigerian army through the call line.
“The human rights desk, being the watchdog against human rights violations by Nigerian Army personnel, is saddled with the responsibility of investigating allegations of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by personnel of the Nigerian army,” he said.
Mr Olatoye said that all the brigades within the 82 Division Area of Responsibility are manned by qualified legal practitioners functioning as Human Rights Desks Officers.
He urged Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) members to always channel complaints relating to human rights abuses to the human rights desk nearest them for relief.
Speaking, the director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, urged governors in the zone to synergise and operationalise previous security agreements, adding that security and human rights issues should be considered regional concerns.
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