News Investigators/ The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to protecting civilians and supporting the safe return, resettlement, reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country.
Shaibu gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Dr Tijani Ahmed, on a courtesy visit.
This is contained in a statement by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Thursday in Abuja.
The army chief underscored the strong link between security and displacement, saying that durable solutions to refugee and IDP challenges were dependent on improved security, stability and effective civil–military cooperation.
According to him, the Nigerian Army remains fully aligned with national efforts to restore peace and create an enabling environment for humanitarian and development interventions to thrive.
Shaibu said that through ongoing operations nationwide, the army continued to prioritise the protection of civilians and the creation of a secure environment to facilitate the voluntary return and reintegration of displaced persons.
He assured the commission of the army’s sustained support for humanitarian initiatives aimed at restoring dignity, improving livelihoods and enhancing the overall wellbeing of affected populations.
Earlier, the NCFRMI Federal Commissioner commended the Nigerian Army for its long-standing support to the commission, particularly during previous evacuation and repatriation exercises of Nigerians from Cameroon.
Ahmed said the army’s involvement was critical to the success of such operations and sought continued collaboration as the commission prepared for another similar mission.
He stressed that a strong partnership with the military was essential to ensuring that humanitarian interventions translated into lasting improvements in the lives of refugees and displaced persons.
NAN