The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is retraining its personnel on the rules and regulations guiding the use of arms in crisis situations, particularly during internal security operations.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Saddique Abubakar, at the flag of a two-day seminar on Monday in Jos, said the seminar was a response to increasing cases of human rights abuses.
“This Seminar is a further effort to expand the audience in the wake of increasing observations of human rights abuses within the theatre of operations and its negative consequences on the armed force.
“Accordingly, it has become increasingly important to constantly remind ourselves on the rules and regulations guiding the use of arms in crisis situations particularly during internal security operations.
“As we know, the laws of armed conflict arose from a desire among civilized nations to prevent unnecessary suffering and destruction among the civil populace while waging war against belligerents and insurgents,’’ he said
Abubakar, who was represented by AVM Muhammad Ahmad, Secretary, NAF Headquarters, said it would deepen the understanding of the personnel on laws of armed conflict during military operations.
The CAS added that it would also broaden the knowledge of commanders and individual airmen responsible for enforcing security during asymmetric and internal security operations.
According to him, the seminar would most importantly strengthen personnel knowledge on human rights and will engender public trust during military operations in internal security.
Abubakar thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the armed forces and also thanked Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command for the initiative to organize the seminar.
Meanwhile, the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, AVM Idi Amin, said that the outcome of the seminar would be used as a basis to include this subject in the training curriculum of both Military Training Centre and the Regiment Training School.
“Keeping these objectives in mind, we have carefully chosen three topics and have invited suitably qualified resource persons to handle the topics.
“Another significant aspect of today’s seminar is the timing relative to the establishment of the Command.
“Although the Command was established just barely two years ago, we are aware of the enormous responsibilities placed on our shoulders.
“We know that the NAF is actively engaged in the fight against insurgency and other forms of banditry across the country more than before.
“We are aware that the products from training institutions under Command particularly regiment personnel and special forces are the personnel deployed mainly for ground operations in various theatres of conflict within the country,’’ he said.
