Following the rising number of civilian casualties in the war against terror, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has warned the Nigerian Armed Forces to avoid mistakes that might cause the death of innocent citizens.
General Musa who was speaking Friday at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State noted that the priority of the army is to protect the sovereignty of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We must understand that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is for Nigeria and for Nigerians. Our duty is to protect Nigeria, to protect our sovereignty whether within or outside, it is not to harm innocent people, that we must understand.
“And for cadets, as you grow in the system, understand this clearly our duty is to protect and defend our country,” General Musa said.
Air strikes in Zamfara and Katsina States had hit civilian targets causing a national outrage. The CDS had defended his men saying each air strike was carried with precision, noting that secondary explosions could have caused the civilian deaths.
Commandant of the NDA, Major General John Ochai, emphasized the importance of leveraging information technology to combat terrorism, banditry and other emerging security challenges confronting the country.
