NHRC Urges Tinubu To Protect Civilians In Conflict Regions

Executive secretary of the Nigerian Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to adopt the needed policies that would ensure the protection of civilians during conflicts in line with international best practice.

Ojukwu, during a workshop and “Photo Exhibit on Protection of Civilian and Human Rights in Nigeria” held in Abuja, emphasized that the protection of civilians in conflict from violence and human rights violations of all kinds remains a sacred duty of not only the government but also non-state actors.

Ojukwu stressed that it is for these reasons that the NHRC and other stakeholders have worked on and submitted to the federal government, a draft policy on the protection of civilians.

According to him, “This policy is aimed at addressing all issues related to the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of civilians as well as remedial and accountability measures for perpetrators of violence and human rights violations.

“We are hoping that in response to the upsurge in violence, that the new administration will approve this policy,”

In his remark, the country director of the Centre for Civilian in Conflict, Dr Benson Olugbuo, urged President Tinubu and the new service chiefs to take time to properly understand the dynamics of the conflicts.

Olugbuo said, “The recent appointment of new service chiefs and other security heads by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provides an opportunity for a reset. Charting the course for a secure and safe Nigeria for civilians can only begin with an honest and bold conversation with the communities that have been severely affected by years of insurgency.

“The new administration needs to spend time understanding the different dynamics of the conflict, assess the already recorded achievements, although meager and acknowledge the missed opportunities,” he advised.

On her part, the solicitor-general of the federation and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, said the challenges of civilians in conflict-affected areas such as conflict-related gender-based violence, recruitment of child soldiers, abduction, early/forced marriage, sex slavery cannot be overemphasized and there was  need to continue to discuss among relevant stakeholders with a view to exploring innovative approaches of these issues.

The workshop was organised by the NHRC in collaboration with the Centre for Civilians in Conflicts.