When Extant Laws Guiding Military Operations Are Obeyed
Abdulsalam Mahmud
Laws, globally, are formulated to ensure man adheres to ethical and professional conduct at any organisation, institution or even State. Without laws, anarchy reign supreme.
Blatant disregards to established laws is common with many both powerful and ordinary individuals. Institutions and organisations are not left out. They also accord little regards for the laws of any land.
The abuse of any type of laws has the potential to threaten national security, and is indeed, partly a factor responsible for rising security threats in the country.
At things stand, rampaging insecurity has made peace elusive in some parts of the country.
It is threatening the nation’s educational system. It has made it difficult for socio-economic activities to thrive well, in many a commercial towns and cities in Nigeria.
The agents provocateur of Nigeria’s insecurity challenge is the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist sect, together with their sister organisation, the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP.
Together, they have both made the North East region a hell on earth. No thanks to the menacing activities of the two extremist sects, the education, agricultural, economic sectors of States in region, particularly, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, have long been gasping for breath.
Thousands residents have been killed, and many others displaced. A mass number of female students of secondary schools in Borno and Yobe States were kidnapped in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Key infrastructure like school institutions, security agents’ offices, public buildings, and other government facilities have been destroyed.
In the North West and recently, North Central, residents have not known peace ever since bandits turn their heat on them; maiming lives, sacking communities, rustling livestock and abducting people.
There is the case of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, militants who have since declared war against security agents in the South East. They have been unleashing terror on police posts across the region.
Hundreds of police officers, Department of State Services, DSS, and local vigilantes’ members, have paid the supreme price in the course of engaging the daredevil agitators and militia group members.
It is imperative to note, however, that military operations are ongoing to contain the savage activities of terrorists, bandits and other kinds of militia and violent groups.
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Though many be ignorant, but the irrefutable fact is that ongoing military operations to tackle criminal elements, and every activities of the Nigerian Armed Forces, are not just prosecuted without established guideline, and adherence to global best standards.
They are enormously guided by extant laws, according to the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Leo Irabor.
Irabor, made this known during the visit of the participants of Promotion Staff Course 4 of the Institute of Defence, Senegal to Defence Headquarters, (DHQ) Abuja, who recently visited Nigeria on a study tour.
Aside extant laws, the CDS, further disclosed that the operations and activities of the Nigerian military have always been guided by outlined rules of engagements, and standard operating procedures.
The CDS who was represented by the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation, Rear Admiral Adeseye Ayobanjo, said the Nigerian Military was created through appropriate constitutional provisions, as such its operations and activities were guided by extant laws as well as regional and global regulations.
Gen. Irabor further explained that the AFN as an instrument of the law, would continue to leverage on the same laws in conducting its operations towards securing the Nation’s territory, as well as the lives and property of Nigerians and foreign nationals.
The Defence Chief commended the leadership of the Senegalese Defence Institute for visiting Nigeria.
He said beside boosting the existing bilateral and diplomatic relations, the visit would afford the two countries the opportunity to capitalized on their commonalities to further foster the defence collaborations between the armed forces of both countries, particularly in combating transnational security threats occasioned by global terrorism.
Gen. Irabor showered encomium on both Nigeria and Senegalese militaries for their contributions towards peace support operations in Africa.
Earlier in his remarks, Head of the Senegalese delegation, Colonel C Gueye, thanked the CDS for the warm reception.
Col. Gueye who is also the Director, Institute of Defence, Senegal said the purpose of the visit was to enable the participants gain firsthand knowledge of the organization and roles of the AFN.
According to him, the Institution’s mission is to build the capacity of staff officers in the areas of crisis management and maintenance of global peace.
The Senegalese delegation, which comprises three members of directing staff and 26 students are expected to visit other military establishments, institutions and formations during their stay in Nigeria.
Mahmud is the Deputy Editor of PRNigeria
