Nigerian security forces and need for protecting civilians
According to both the European Union’s European Security Strategy and UNICEF, civilian fatalities around the world have climbed from 5 percent at the turn of the 20th century to more than 90 percent today, and sadly, Nigeria is no exception. As many 15,000 civilians were killed in Nigeria last year. From the current counterinsurgency operations […]
According to both the European Union’s European Security Strategy and UNICEF, civilian fatalities around the world have climbed from 5 percent at the turn of the 20th century to more than 90 percent today, and sadly, Nigeria is no exception. As many 15,000 civilians were killed in Nigeria last year. From the current counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria to operations in the Niger Delta against militants and against Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the problem of civilian casualties dominates debates, media headlines and international conferences. For Nigeria to be successful in its internal security challenges and as a country, this needs to change.
Harm to civilians during security operations varies in form and degree. The most obvious being death and injury, but one can add loss of and damage to property, loss of sources of livelihood, displacement (IDPs and refugees), arbitrary arrests and illegal detention. And while harm to civilians may be a deliberate tactic for some non-state armed groups, operations carried out by government security forces can also be responsible for incidental or accidental harm to civilians.
The government of Nigeria is recognizing that the issue of civilian harm during operations needs to be addressed and is looking at how to mitigate such harm by working towards providing policy guidance on the issue. The Defence Headquarters, in collaboration with Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), recently organized a three-day, multi-stakeholder High-Level Dialogue with the theme, “Enhancement of Civilian Harm Mitigation During Security Operations: Policy and Practice.”
The event which was held in Abuja on Nov. 21-23, and attracted more than 200 participants from the Nigerian Military, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Office of the National Security Adviser, NEMA, PCNI, Ministries of Interior, Women Affairs, Budget and National Planning as well as international and Nigerian CSOs such as CLEEN Foundation, CISLAC, ICRC, Partners Global, and Human Rights Watch. UN agencies such as UNHRC, and OCHA also participated. Representatives from the diplomatic community (UK, US, Canada) as well as members of the press attended.
In his opening remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin said civilian harm remains the tragic reality in any conflict, but in those without clearly defined battlefields, it is especially difficult to distinguish combatants from civilians. As a result, civilians are caught up in the middle of a conflict and unable to leave. Some lose their lives while others are forcefully displaced, and must fend for themselves in inhospitable terrain.
And the general admitted that despite security forces’ best efforts in the ongoing operations in the northeast and Niger Delta, incidental and accidental harm can occur. So, it is necessary to integrate civilian harm mitigation (CHM) measures in planning, training and conducting of operations. According to the general, since all military and security services carry out security operations in civilian-centric environments where civilian harm is a real possibility, Nigeria must create and embrace a national and comprehensive policy covering civilian harm during operations, one that reflects both Nigerian principles and global best practices.
The general’s support of CHM should come as welcome news to everyone with a stake in a peaceful Nigeria. But it’s should not be seen as simply an add-on policy to Nigeria’s counterinsurgency campaign; civilian protection is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law, and it creates a conducive atmosphere under which humanitarian organizations can operate. But perhaps most important, it is simply the right thing to do and it can offer a strategic advantage to Nigerian security forces.
What’s the advantage? As we’ve seen in Afghanistan and Iraq, protecting civilians and making amends for incidental and accidental harm can increase civilians’ goodwill towards legitimate security forces, reduce support for insurgency groups who endanger civilians and it is the first step in breaking the recurring cycle of violence and radicalization.
As the Defence chief reminded participants, protecting civilians is not a new concept in Nigeria. As far back as the Nigerian Civil War, Gen. Gowon issued a Code of Conduct that enjoined security forces to protect civilians. In that spirit, Gen. Olonisakin charged participants to come up with a draft national policy on civilian harm mitigation that aligns with global best practices and that will be presented to the Executive Branch. He also urged the participants to design tools and polices to reinforce CHM and to provide realistic scenario-based training based on lessons learned from the northeast and Niger Delta operations.
To be successful in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, Nigeria must recognize the importance of protecting all civilians: Every Nigerian within Nigeria’s border. The military understands this, and has clearly taken the lead on establishing a national policy and procedure. It is now time for the rest of the government to also embrace this strategic imperative, and quickly adopt a national policy.
Shehu is a retired Nigerian Air Force Group Captain, and Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) Regional Program Manager, wrote this piece from Washington, DC, United States of America.