Bill to Restrict Use of Arms by Military in Certain Internal Operations Passes Second Reading

•  Senate proposes death penalty for pirates who kill

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

A bill seeking to restrict the use of arms by the armed forces in some of its internal operations,  wednesday passed through second reading in the Senate.

The lawmakers also passed through second reading a bill proposing life imprisonment for sea piracy, and the death penalty for pirates whose activities cause death.

The Armed Forces (Restriction on Use in Certain Internal Security Operations, etc) Bill, 2017, sponsored by Senator David Umaru (Niger East) seeks to regulate the use of the military in internal operations, particularly civil operations.

Tagged: ‘A bill for an Act to regulate the use of the armed forces of the federation in internal security operation and for this purpose prescribe the conditions and procedure for its deployment in aid to civil security authorities to suppress domestic emergencies such as insurrection, civil disturbances, ethno-religious clashes, interdiction of narcotics, drug and controlled substances; joint military and police anti-robbery patrol; and for related matters.

The bill outlines an effective legal framework for the deployment of the armed forces in internal security operations, and clearly spells out the demands of observance of the rules of engagement and international conventions on the use of force and fire arms.

Umaru, leading the debate, said that the bill would also enhance intelligence sharing and collaboration between the armed forces and the civil security authorities for the benefit of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign.

“It will also stipulate conditions, procedure and other safeguards in the use of the armed forces in internal security operations, adding that it would also ensure that the military capability of the armed forces to discharge its primary constitutional duty is not undermined and the statutory responsibilities of the civil security authorities are not unintentionally stultified,” he said.

Umaru added that the bill would also provide for punitive measures against arbitrary use of the armed forces and ensure accountability regarding the deployment of the armed forces in aid to civil security authorities.

In a related development, Senator Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom South) said the activities of sea pirates should be punished under a different criminal code, from that of robbery.

“Robbery that is prosecuted at sea should be recognised and isolated from those that occur on land, as it is done in other countries of the world, because the victims of such robbery may be citizens of other countries trading with Nigeria. Nigeria, being an import dependent economy must do more to guarantee the safe arrival of goods at her shores. It is therefore important and urgent that a law be put in place that will discourage, suppress sea piracy and punish those who engage in it,” he said