ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin has said that the Nigerian Armed Forces are committed to protection and welfare of children.
Olonisakin 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.
The CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Administration at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Rear Admiral Babalola Egbedina, pointed out that the Nigerian military always pays 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 Nations protocol and with careful observance of the Law of Armed Conflict to safeguard the children and the vulnerable.
Olonisakin assured the United Nations, 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.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Earlier, 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.
Gough noted that fighting insurgency has always been a difficult task worldwide.
She, therefore, commended 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.
Gough, however, 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 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 DHQ were the Director of Civil Military Relations, Maj-Gen. Richard Duru, Director of Administration, Maj-Gen. Fatai Alli, the Director of Defence Information (DDI) Brig-Gen. 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.
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