Specialized Training for Army Human Rights Desk Officers

For almost a decade, the Nigerian Army has been at the center of combating the growing spate of internal security challenges in the country, including Boko insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping, among others. These security challenges have tested the strength of the Nigerian Army in several ways with most times the aim of undermining it. However, the Nigeria Army’s resilience and its innovative strategies have constantly put the enemies on the losing side.

Nevertheless, these non-conventional war fares have placed the army in a constant position of interfacing unarmed civilian population giving rise to human rights issues and increased engagements of the Army Human Right Desks officers. The Army Human Rights Desk is equally working to address erupting human rights concerns. While these Desk Officers have been of help in addressing human rights concerns, some gaps have been identified, specifically in their relations with the general public.

Against this background, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in partnership with the House Committee on Army organized a three-day specialized training for Army Human rights desk officers in Lagos. This training gathered Desk Officers from nine Army divisions across the country, including Abuja, Lagos, Sokoto, Enugu, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ibadan, and Jos. The training also had in attendance members of civil society organizations and media practitioners.

Participants of this training were engaged on the significant role of human rights and the rule of law in promoting national security. Legal frameworks and necessary models to effectively engage civilian population were also discussed. The training also explore the need to improve civil-military relations in achieving sustainable security in Nigeria.