Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno says international cooperation and collaboration are indispensable in addressing the challenges of protecting civilians in armed conflicts.
Zulum said this on Friday in Kaduna while presenting a lecture, being a Guest Speaker in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) seminar as part of activities marking the institution’s 60 years anniversary.
The theme of the seminar was “Protection of Civilians in Conflict”.
According to Zulum, the protection of civilians in armed conflict was a critical and complex challenge that demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from the international community.
He added that in spite of the existence of international humanitarian law and various mechanisms aimed at safeguarding civilians, the reality often failed short of ensuring their safety and well-being.
Zulum equally said that one of the key issues was the blatant disregard for the rules of engagement by some state and non-state actors involved in armed conflicts.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate attacks and the use of tactics that cause excessive harm to non-combatants persist, leading to devastating consequences for civilian populations,”he lamented.
Speaking further, Zulum said the changing nature of armed conflicts, with the rise of non-state actors and the blurred lines between military and civilian spaces, poses new challenges to the protection of civilians.
He added that humanitarian actors faced numerous obstacles in
delivering aid and assistance to those in need, including restricted access, insecurity, and attacks on humanitarian personnel.
He, therefore, said the protection of civilians inarmed conflict required a holistic and persistent approach that encompasses legal, political, and
humanitarian dimensions.
The governor restated the need to reinforce commitment towards upholding
international humanitarian law, enhancement of accountability mechanisms, and adaptive strategies to the evolving nature of conflict.
