By Douglas Princemola
RULAAC, a civil rights organization, issued a warning on Tuesday following the deaths of 16 Nigerian Army members in Okuama Community, located in the Delta State of South South Nigeria. They urged the Nigerian armed forces to refrain from engaging in retaliatory actions deemed criminal.
The organization condemned what it termed as “unprovoked” and “cowardly assaults resulting in the deaths” of 16 soldiers. Expressing sympathy for the families of the deceased officers and the Nigerian military, they emphasized the necessity for military operations to adhere to established rules of engagement.
Under the signature of Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC expressed approval of the military’s commitment to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
Additionally, they urged the Delta State government to move beyond mere condemnation and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the underlying causes of the communal conflict and clashes that led to military intervention and ultimately resulted in the ambush and fatal assaults on soldiers.
They stressed the importance of apprehending and thoroughly investigating all individuals involved, directly or indirectly, in the crisis that led to the reprehensible killings of the soldiers. Those found guilty must face legal proceedings and the full consequences of the law.
The organization appealed to the military to cease retaliatory actions against communities, emphasizing the need to avoid a recurrence of past events during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), where military forces razed communities in Odi and Zaki Biam in retaliation for soldier deaths.
In June 2013, the court granted the residents of Odi a monetary settlement of 37.6 billion naira (approximately $98 million USD) for the harm inflicted by the military during the assault.
The status of whether the residents of Odi have received the monetary compensation awarded by the Federal High Court remains uncertain.
They emphasized the imperative of safeguarding innocent civilians and their belongings at all times, ensuring they are not made to endure the consequences of the actions of a minority within the community.
They stated that military retaliations resulting in civilian deaths are not permissible under rules of engagement, which are formulated to guarantee military operations are executed in a manner consistent with human rights principles, preserving the lives and dignity of all individuals.
RULAAC elaborated on how military retaliations are frequently viewed as acts of vengeance, raising concerns about their legality.
They asserted that force must be utilized in a proportionate and restricted manner to accomplish legitimate military objectives. They emphasized that indiscriminate use of force leading to civilian casualties violates both international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Thus, they stressed the importance for the military to avoid sinking to the level of criminals and to ensure that their operations adhere to rules of engagement, mandating the use of force to be proportionate, necessary, and discriminatory.
They underscored the military’s obligation to safeguard civilians and refrain from participating in retaliatory actions or any violence against innocent civilians. They urged the military to maintain focus and dedication to its mandate of preserving peace and security within the community.
