Gap between civilians, military bridged – Army Chief says

The Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Nigeria Army, Maj-Gen. MG Kangye, has said that the creation of the Department of Civil-Military Affairs has greatly bridged the gap between Civilians and the Military.

Kangye said platforms on radio stations are also used to reach the public intimating them on the activities of the military and providing them with help and emergency lines that that are dedicated for complaints and emergencies.

He said the efforts has largely reduced the cases of human rights violations among military personnel.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Wednesday on the  occasion of the second quarter 2023 Civil-Military Cooperation Media Chat of the Army headquarters, Kangye reteriated that most of the effort put in place has significantly checkmated the challenges working against civil-military cooperation in Nigeria.

According to him: “The civil-military relations in Nigeria are working. It is achieving positive results especially since the department was created because the litigation and reports about Nigerian Army personnel that were received during the last quarter by the Legal Department has significantly reduced.

“Unlike before, probably in a quarter, you may have 10 or 11 cases of alleged human rights violations against the Nigeria Army personnel that have significantly reduced”.

He noted however that the media plays a significant role in national development, adding that the successes recorded regular media engagements and sensitization of the military personnel.

“We go to various military formations to sensitize our soldiers on the laws of armed conflict, international humanitarian laws, and rules of engagement as well as code of conduct in every internal security operation,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the 2023 second quarter media chat had the theme “Media as a Critical Tool in Addressing Insecurity in Nigeria”.

The event drew participants from different media organizations from across the country and the military high command including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen.Faruk Yahaya, who declared the event open.