National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) has flagged off a two-day training on mainstream human rights, humanitarian principles and
civilian protection in counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast.
Flagging the training Wednesday at Summit Conference Hotel in
Damaturu, the Executive Secretary, NHRC represented by the Asssitant
Director Investigation and Monitoring, Barr. Iheme Richmond, said the
training was aimed at brainstorming the military on civilian protection.
“This training is aimed at improving the knowledge of the military on
human rights, humanitarian principles and civilian protection in the
course of counter-insurgency operations.
“There were outcry of military abuses of human rights in the course of
their operation ranging from extra-judicial killings, prolonged
detention without trail, sexual exploitation, among others, so we are
partnering with UNHCR to ensure integration of human right standard
inorder to reduce the incidents,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of UNHCR field office in Yobe, Gabriel Idoko, said the training was also to interact with the military to know that some of the insurgents live among the populace and that they should make every effort to protect the civilians.
He said, “We want to remind the military that the civilians have right and
their dignity must be preserved, as doing so will reduce casualty level and reduce consequences of internal displacements.”
About 50 frontline military men, including police officers are attending
the training.
