By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has commended the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its sustained humanitarian interventions in conflict-affected communities across Nigeria, particularly in the North-East region.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Captain Moses Yare, the Defence Minister gave the commendation while receiving a delegation of the ICRC at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting human rights and adhering to international best practices and protocols governing civil-military relations.
The Minister expressed concern over the persistent insurgency and insecurity in parts of the North-East and North-West, stressing that the fight against terrorism requires collective responsibility and national unity.
He called on all stakeholders to support ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability across affected regions, noting that security remains everybody’s business.
Earlier, the Head of Delegation of the ICRC, Doris El Doueihy, appreciated the continued collaboration between the humanitarian organisation and the Nigerian military, describing the relationship as vital to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in conflict zones.
She also commended the Federal Government for the recent launch of a new training programme for military police personnel in Zaria, describing the initiative as a positive development.
El Doueihy reaffirmed the ICRC’s strong partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces as part of the organisation’s expanded humanitarian operations in the North-East and North-West regions, while noting the increased presence of the ICRC in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The ICRC further urged authorities to discourage prolonged detention of suspects without access to family members and appealed for continued access for Red Cross officials to detainees to facilitate family contact and humanitarian support.
She also commended the progress made on detainee hearings and encouraged stronger coordination with the Federal Ministry of Justice to help decongest detention facilities across the country.
