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<\/p>\nBy George Mgbeleke <\/p>\n
Prominent pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has canvassed civil society solidarity and active support to the broad-based national security agenda of the current minister of Defence General Chris Gwabin Musa aimed at providing effective and efficient security to lives and property of the citizens just as the Rights group said from the information available to it, the team at the ministry of Defence has been doing basic background jobs to achieve a successful counterterrorism war in the country.
\n<\/p>\n
In a statement by the group National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, “Besides, HURIWA backed the Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede for publicly charging the civil society in the North-East to partner actively with the security forces to eradicate terrorism and the activities of terrorists who hibernate amongst those affected communities already destroyed by the boko haram terrorists and ISWAP fighters who are largely drawn from Indigenous communities in the Northeast of Nigeria. The Chief of Defence Staff hasn’t made any mistake in calling on the people of the Northeast to work in close liaison with the security forces to eradicate the threats of terrorism by terrorists who have declared a total war on the Nigerian nation and strategic security assets, military operatives.”<\/p>\n
HUMRIWA said: “The news that MARS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria\u2019s Ministry of Defence for a national C4I programme valued at over USD 190 million, is a welcome development. The Rights group expressed joy that the minister of Defence and his team are working round the clock to rejig the security architecture in the country for efficiency and reinforced effectiveness. <\/p>\n
HURIWA recalled that the agreement, signed in London on 19 March 2026, establishes a partnership between MARSS, the Nigerian MoD and local partners to deliver what is described as Nigeria\u2019s first fully integrated national defence architecture. The multi-year programme will include deployment of the company\u2019s NiDAR AI-enabled command, control, communications, computers and intelligence system, alongside training, spares and support.<\/p>\n
A national command centre and additional regional hubs are to be established under the programme, linked to a network of sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and expeditionary platforms. These will be integrated to provide a unified operational picture across air and land domains, supporting counter-terrorism and security operations, according to the company.<\/p>\n
UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker said: \u201cThe UK and Nigeria share a deep, longstanding security and defence relationship. Signing this memorandum of understanding is a great example of our continued and strengthening partnership, with a British company able to deliver world leading, combat proven UK technology and defensive capabilities to support Nigeria\u2019s fight against terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n
HURIWA has therefore canvassed popular support of the Civil society leaders in Nigeria to back the efforts of the Defence minister, his colleague the minister of state and the management team at the ministry of Defence to provide some of the best and functional military hardwares and weapons and also provide material motivation for the combatants to actualise the immediate and far-reaching objective of the war on terror so to bring the ear to a decisive end. <\/p>\n
HURIWA reminded soldiers and their commanders in the theatres of counterterrorism battles to adopt the combat methodology that formed the fundamental assignment of the combatants by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), who ordered troops to engage armed bandits immediately on sight without waiting for further directives.<\/p>\n
General Musa, during his Senate screening just few hours before his inauguration by the President said this instruction was essential for frontline protection and for restoring confidence in the country\u2019s security efforts.
\nMusa issued the directive while responding to lawmakers\u2019 concerns about command delays during encounters with insurgents.<\/p>\n
He explained that military personnel automatically assume the mandate to kill armed criminals once deployed to conflict zones.<\/p>\n
According to him, troops must rely on their training and instincts to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the communities under their watch.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cAnd for the troop, every personnel member that is deployed knows why they\u2019re deployed. You are to engage any criminal or any bandit that is armed and about to kill you. You don\u2019t have to wait.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomebody\u2019s aiming to shoot at you, you\u2019re waiting for orders, from who? Once you are deployed, you automatically have that responsibility.\u201d
\nMusa added that troops cannot claim they are awaiting authorisation when confronting imminent danger.<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cYour colleague is to be shot and you know, there is no other way of stopping it, other than to kill the person. You are to secure the community or property you are protecting, and this they all know.
\n\u201cSo if any member of the armed forces deployed anywhere tells you that he\u2019s waiting for an order, he is lying and he\u2019s only a coward.<\/p>\n
The Rights group argued strongly that if this approach was ealier adopted by the soldiers in the theatres of counterterrorism battles, then the high fatalities amongst soldiers would have been averted but the Rights group reminded the minister of Defence that it is obligatory that the service chiefs and the field commanders supply adequate sophisticated weapons to outmatch and outsmart the firepower of the ragtag terrorists who are becoming better coordinated and daring in their war against the Nigerian state and the good people of Nigeria. HURIWA opposes the reintegration programme for terrorists and recommended total liquidation, decimation and degrading of terrorists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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