Gen Olonisakin
The
Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin has emphasised that
the Nigerian Armed Forces are committed to protection and welfare of
children. The CDS made this declaration when a group of representatives
from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) paid him a
courtesy call at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
General
Olonisakin, who was represented by the Chief of Administration at the
Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Babalola Egbedina, pointed out that
the Nigerian military always pay special attention to children and their
well being, even at critical theatres of operations. He stated that the
Nigerian Armed Forces always handle children in accordance to the
United Nation protocol and with careful observance of the Law of Armed
Conflict to safeguard the children and the vulnerable.
The
CDS assured the United Nation, especially the UNICEF that the Nigerian
military would continue to work together with the world body and always
ready to coordinate and collaborate with the UNICEF for the overall
benefits of the Nigerian children, many of who were orphaned as a result
of Boko Haram activities in the North East.
Earlier
in her remark, the leader of the team and country Representative of
UNICEF, Ms Jean Gough, appreciated the difficult circumstance the troops
are operating in the North East. She noted that fighting insurgency has
always been a difficult task worldwide. She then praised the Nigerian
Armed Forces for tackling the challenges of insurgency and children
matter professionally and for giving the UNICEF officials opportunity to
interface with them in the course of their duties.
Ms
Jean Gough solicited for more robust and harmonious working
relationship with the military towards protecting and integrating the
estranged children and the captured child terrorists back to normal and
purposeful lives. She thanked the CDS for all the cooperation the UNICEF
had enjoyed from the military and pledged to continue working with the
Armed Forces towards achieving the aim and objectives of Operation Safe
Corridor set up by the Armed Forces.
Among
other senior officers that received the UNICEF Representatives to
Defence Headquarters were the Director of Civil Military Relations at
Defence Headquarters, Major General Richard Duru, Director of
Administration, Major General Fatai Alli, the Director of Information
Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar and the Director of Legal Services Air
Commodore ME Ahmed. Other officials of the UNICEF at the occasion
included the UNICEF Country Chief of Child Protection Ms Rachel Harvey
and the Country Child Protection Specialist, Mr Samuel Manyok.
RABE ABUBAKAR
Brigadier General
Acting Director Defence Information
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