SEAMLESS ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL POPULACE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER OPERATIONS CRITICAL…GOC 6 DIVISION

By: Danjuma Jonah

The importance of seamless engagement with the civil populace before, during and after military operations cannot be overemphasized. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam made this known today, 30 October 2024, while declaring open a one-day Workshop on Human Security and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) at Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya Badminton Court, Port Harcourt Barracks.

The GOC, who is also the Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE stressed that the workshop could not have come at a better time than now, owing to the evolving dynamics in the ever complex, violent, uncertain and ambiguous operating environment.

He reiterated that globally, the quest for human security and indeed, effective CIMIC has continued to gain traction. Thus, the need to prioritize training on human security in the context of CIMIC to facilitate seamless engagements with the civil population is pertinent. He added that it is to enable troops attain the full benefits both as capability and a function.

Major General Abdussalam also affirmed that with the workshop, troops will receive added training in addition to being more equipped to perform CIMIC tasks given the pedigree and array of the resource persons, lots of experiences would be brought to bare in the course of the Workshop. Additionally, having the opportunity of learning from other climes, how the complex issues of human security and CIMIC are handled, particularly in a joint operating environment. This, he said aptly aligns with the COAS Command Philosophy.

He thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa for availing the Division the opportunity to host the workshop and for providing the resources that brought it to fruition. He stressed that it will indeed significantly improve the capacity of the officers and men in functioning effectively in the ever-complex operating environment of the Niger Delta Region, in which relation with the civil populace has been integral to the attainment of the Division’s mandate since inception in 2016.

The GOC commended the British High Commission (BHC) for making the workshop a reality, noting that their expertise and contributions are invaluable to the Division’s shared goals. He encouraged participants to engage actively in the discussions by sharing their experiences and learning from one another. “Together with our partners, we shall work together to enhance our human security capacity to promote effective CIMIC in the Niger Delta Region” he said.

Speaking relatedly, the Director, Civil-Military Affairs at the Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshall Anthony Ekpe emphasized the importance of the CIMIC in a joint environment. He added that Armed Forces of Nigeria participated in various operations, therefore it is expedient to create awareness for the troops that there some non-state actors who are willing to surrender during military operations, there is therefore the need to protect their lives. He added that military operations are not based on fighting alone, but based on building mutual cooperation with the host communities for effective service delivery. He thanked the GOC for the warm reception accorded the team.

The workshop had carefully selected topics, such as Human Security – the Context for CIMIC Activity, The UK Approach to CIMIC, Practical Application of CIMIC on COIN Operations, CIMIC and Protection of Civilians, Warrior and Protector as well as Guided by Law were diligently presented by both British and Nigerian resource persons in the persons of the Human Security Adviser, BHC, Abuja, Mr John Sanderson, Brigadier John Deverell, the Founder and Executive Director, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hamsatu Allamin amongst others.

SEAMLESS ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL POPULACE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER OPERATIONS CRITICAL…GOC 6 DIVISION