Poor sensitization causing friction between Nigerian Army, civilians -Rights Group

Pro-democracy group in Nigeria, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has said there exists a gulf between the military establishment and the civilian population in the country.

A release signed by the group’s national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, noted that “Nigerians are bereft of any knowledge of the necessity of occasionally drafting in soldiers on internal security operations in aid of the policing institution.”

“Regrettably, many Nigerians have raised posers why those military agents were sent on peace keeping mission in that part of Delta state that sadly resulted in high casualties,” the group pointed out.

HURIWA suggested that the military authorities must do more to bring about massive enlightenment and strategic advocacy campaigns to educate, inform and broaden the understanding of the arduous tasks of the military in carrying out internal security operations.

“It is only when the civil populace are made consciously and intentionally aware of the essence of such strategic military engagement that their fuller and active participation and collaboration can be obtained to avoid any possible conflicts. In the last 5 years, the armed forces have not done enough to bridge the gaps between civilians and the military components of the society.”

HURIWA called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa and the Service Chiefs to rejig and introduce transformative strategies to improve civil and military dialogues so as to win the hearts and minds of the citizens towards achieving the national security objective.

HURIWA said that the recent Pre-meditated and callous killings of about sixteen military operatives including some senior Army officers by some armed gunmen in Okuoma community of Bomadi LGA of Delta State, shows that there are many gaps which needed to be filled to improve civil and military affairs in Nigeria.