Armed Forces Act: Don't Pamper Terrorists, Says DHQ

By Paul Obi in Abuja

As the federal government considers the amendment of the Armed Forces Act, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Tuesday cautioned against pampering of terrorists and undue focus on human rights in the review of the military act.

Speaking at a one-day meeting on the Review of the Armed Forces Act, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, gave the word of caution to reviewers not to misconstrue terrorists’ activities and atrocities as part of their fundamental human rights.

He said: “The foresight of enacting a common Act for the Armed Forces has greatly enhanced the military aid to civil authorities as exemplified in the ongoing war against terror and tackling the challenges of the Niger Delta and other areas of the nation.

“However, it is also pertinent to consider the larger violations of rights of innocent citizens by terrorists.

“While we remain law abiding in our efforts to restore hope and dignity of our compatriots, the terrorists especially in the asymmetric warfare we are fighting, has nobody to account.”

Details later…