NHRC drafts national policy for protection of civilians during conflict

The National human rights commission (NHRC) says it has submitted the draft of a national policy on the protection of civilians during conflicts to the federal government.

Speaking at a two-day workshop organised by the commission in partnership with the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of NHRC, said recent upsurge in violence in the north-east, north-central, south-east and north-west geopolitical zones necessitated the development of the policy.

He said the draft policy seeks to protect civilians in conflicts and maximally reduce harm done to them during and after operations by an offshoot of the state.

“Sadly, according to UNDP, over two million people have been displaced and 300,000 killed during the over a decade Boko Haram conflict in the north-east,” he said.

“Section 14 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended) places the responsibility to protect the people on the government and its institutions.

“This provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the responsibility and ultimate goal of every government.

“This policy is aimed at addressing all issues related to the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of civilians as well as remedial and accountability measures for perpetrators of violence and human rights violations.

“It also includes any other group conducting operations in conjunction with, on behalf of, or with the support of the government and (or) sub-national government during all armed conflicts, security operations, internal security operations and all military operations involving the use of force to all civilians and persons harmed by actors listed above.”

Ojukwu said the NHRC is committed to playing a leading role in the implementation of the policy and ensuring that all stakeholders play their parts in the protection of civilians.

In February, TheCable reported that SBM intelligence, a research organisation, revealed that accidental Nigerian Air Force (NAF) strikes have killed over 300 civilians in the country since 2017.

In the first quarter of 2023, 1,230 civilians reportedly lost their lives to insecurity — 79 security personnel were killed, and 658 were abducted.