L
LequteMan
Guest
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday when declaring open an International seminar on the Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Internal Security Operations in Abuja has said that the Federal Government is still open to constructive dialogue with the Boko Haram sect to end insurgency in the North East zone of the country.
“Our administration has committed tremendous resources and adopted several approaches to prosecuting the fight against terror in Nigeria.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states is one of the measures taken to contain the activities of the terrorists.
“The National Committee on Peace and Dialogue in the Northern parts of the country was constituted to explore ways of dialoguing with the Boko Haram sect with a view to addressing their grievances, if any.
“I wish to use this platform to renew my previous call to members of the sect to lay down their arms and engage government in a constructive manner in order to address their grievances, if truly they have any reason to do what they are doing.
“However, while we are awaiting a positive response from the Boko Haram sect, it is important to note that government has the responsibility to protect the lives and property of our citizens.
“No efforts will be spared by this administration in discharging that responsibility.’’
The president also commended the organisers of the seminar with the theme ``Engendering Greater Understanding of the Legal Underpinning of Internal Security Operations’’.
He said the seminar, meant to ensure that the efforts to tackle the security challenges in the country were carried out within the confine of the laws, ``is apt, most critical and relevant.
Jonathan said he had directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to ensure that relevant human rights and international humanitarian norms were emphasised in the training of members of the armed forces.
He admonished individual members of the armed forces to act within a high sense of responsibility and avoid any criminality in the discharge of their duties.
“Our administration has committed tremendous resources and adopted several approaches to prosecuting the fight against terror in Nigeria.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states is one of the measures taken to contain the activities of the terrorists.
“The National Committee on Peace and Dialogue in the Northern parts of the country was constituted to explore ways of dialoguing with the Boko Haram sect with a view to addressing their grievances, if any.
“I wish to use this platform to renew my previous call to members of the sect to lay down their arms and engage government in a constructive manner in order to address their grievances, if truly they have any reason to do what they are doing.
“However, while we are awaiting a positive response from the Boko Haram sect, it is important to note that government has the responsibility to protect the lives and property of our citizens.
“No efforts will be spared by this administration in discharging that responsibility.’’
The president also commended the organisers of the seminar with the theme ``Engendering Greater Understanding of the Legal Underpinning of Internal Security Operations’’.
He said the seminar, meant to ensure that the efforts to tackle the security challenges in the country were carried out within the confine of the laws, ``is apt, most critical and relevant.
Jonathan said he had directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to ensure that relevant human rights and international humanitarian norms were emphasised in the training of members of the armed forces.
He admonished individual members of the armed forces to act within a high sense of responsibility and avoid any criminality in the discharge of their duties.