- It is good news for Nigerians as the army announces that they would take soldier misconduct seriously
- They set up a call centre with a sort code to reach out to the human rights desks on any network
- Lt Gen Tukur Buratai also issued directions for officials to go round army formations to sensitize troops
On Tuesday, August 15, the Nigeria Army announced that any complaints by civilians against army personnel regarding human rights abuse would be dealt with promptly.
Solomon Kumapayi, the Director, Civil Military Affairs, gave the assurance at a sensitization workshop on human rights held at the 1 Division, Nigerian Army Kaduna.
According to NAN, Mr Kumapayi who is a brigadier general also said the Army was working to ensure full respect for the rights of the civil populace of Nigeria by soldiers in line with global practice.
He said that cases of alleged human rights violation by soldiers had reduced in the last few weeks due to a new reorientation of the personnel.
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At the workshop where a paper tagged, “The Professionally Responsive Soldiers. A worthy Ambassador of Nigeria Army,” was presented, he also said: “We are doing our jobs more professionally and have been responsive to the complaints that we receive.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has directed us to go round army formations to sensitize our troops on human rights activities, and their conduct whether on operations or out of operation.’’
“The COAS has set-up human rights desk at the army headquarters. So, he directed same to be set-up at formation levels at the divisional headquarters.
“It is also to be set-up outside divisional headquarters to allow easy access for civilian populace to reach us."
A call centre with the sort code - 183, has been set up to reach out to the human rights desks on any network.
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“Someone is there to receive your complain and immediate action will be taken, and the Army Chief is being briefed daily on all calls that comes in.
“He takes decision on such complaint and this has been seen in recent times,” he said.
The changes do not stop there, the director also said the department run a weekly one-hour live programme on Armed Forces Radio to communicate with the civil populace
“Our hope is that over time, people will get to know what the Nigeria Army is doing in line with the global best practice,” he said.
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NAIJ.com earlier reported that Attahiru also disclosed that almost two thousand soldiers were trained to enhance operational efficiency in the theatre.
Ibrahim Attahiru, theatre commander major general urged Nigerians to cooperate with the army so as to succeed in the fight against against the insurgent.
Watch this video about the Nigerian army below: