AU, Nigerian Army to Partner on Civil-Military Relations
The African Union – Economic Social and Cultural Council (AU-ESCC) has signified its desire to Paryner lauded the Nigerian Army in fostering good civil- military relations, and prosecuting the on-going war against insurgency in the North East.
Dr. Tunji Asaolu, who led a delegation of AU-ESCC to visit the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Army Headquarters said Nigerian Army needs the encouragement towards improving internal security, and welfare of officers and men of the Army.
He said, it was necessary for their organisation to liaise with the Nigerian Army in the area of training, and empowerment of youths in the North East, saying AU-ESCC has a lot of activities and programme to offer.
The organisation condemned the move by Amnesty International to discredit the efforts of the Army, noting that the move was being sponsored by foreign agents to destabilize Nigeria.
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He also said, their organisation is spearheading the ‘silence the gun’ programme which is aimed at preventing the proliferation of light weapons and small arms in Africa, and therefore solicited the cooperation of NA in this regard.
In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Buratai, described the visit of the AU-ESCC delegation as a morale booster, which he said will lift the confidence of NA in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimines.
Buratai, further said the initiative of silencing the gun was apt especially now that Nigeria and Africa is facing the menace of arms’ proliferation.
The COAS, added that NA has taken some drastic measures which include monitoring of borders, mopping up of arms, and capturing the national database of small arms and light weapons, amongst others to checkmate smuggling of arms, and human trafficking, as well as supporting the AU’s ‘silencing the gun’ programme.
He urged international organisations resident in Nigeria to support the fight against insurgency and other heinous crimes.
By PRNigeria
