The Army has sensitised troops on compliance with humanitarian and human rights laws, while carrying out their constitutional duties.

Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (CCMA), Maj-Gen Nosakhare Ugbo, yesterday, gave the charge at a lecture and sensitization workshop, with the theme, ‘Constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Soldier through Adherence to Humanitarian and Human Right Laws’ organised for the troops of 6 Division, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ugbo explained that the soldiers needed to act with the highest level of professionalism during operations while emphasising that actions that would elicit negative implications on the lives of citizens must be avoided.

He said: “The Nigerian Army, being a creation of the law, has a sacred obligation to ensure that its personnel perform their duties professionally within the ambit of relevant national and international laws.

“Hence, as soldiers, we must ensure that actions, which might have a negative impact on the lives of citizens and their civil liberties are avoided. Thus, the need to adhere to the provisions of humanitarian and human rights laws in carrying out our constitutional responsibilities as soldiers has become imperative.”

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj-Gen Jamal Abdulssalam, disclosed that the division had, as a matter of priority, placed high premium on the training of troops to ensure their effectiveness and decorum in the discharge of their duties.

The GOC, who was represented by the division’s Chief of Staff, Brig-Gen. Babatunde Omopariola, said the aim of the workshop was in tandem with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in transforming and motivating the troops to better discharge their duties.