Tag: COAS Lagbaja

The ECOWAS Court has ordered the Sierra Leonean government to pay a compensation of 15,000 dollars in damages each to two of its citizens, for violating their rights to security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two citizens, Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah, had filed the suit seeking to enforce their rights following the violent quelling of protests by security forces.

The police and army had allegedly used live ammunition and tear gas against unarmed young demonstrators, causing deaths and injuring many.

Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara,  delivering judgment on behalf of the three-member panel presided by Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, with Justice Edward Asante sitting, held that Sierra Leone violated the applicants’ fundamental rights.

The court noted that the Sierra Leonean government failed in its obligation to the applicants, and neither appeared nor presented a defence before the court.

Read Also: ECOWAS Court dismisses Nigerian’s suit seeking N5m damages over police torture

The Community Court, therefore, delivered the judgment against Sierra Leone by default.

It also ordered the government of Sierra Leone to conduct an investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence, which occurred in Makeni on 17 and 18 July 2020.

The court further ordered the state to take measures to prevent the excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations in the country going forward.

The court, however, declared as inadmissible the claim of the applicants who had presented themselves as the dead victims’ rightful heirs for failure to provide proof of their death and of their kinship with the victims.

NAN reports that the applicants had instituted the suit alleging violations of their fundamental rights, right to security, right to life and the right to effective remedy during the Makeni incident.

Several victims, including Foday Kargbo, Mohamed Sillah and Alusine Sesay, died as a result of this crackdown.

(NAN)

Ilobu town, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State has rallied prayers for the ailing substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja.

The community through Ilobu-Asake Development Union(IDU) during a press conference to herald 2024 Ilobu Day celebration, also warned rumour mongers to desist from peddling fake news on Lagbaja, who hailsbfrom the community. 

 National President of the union, Pastor Olufemi Salako, said before his health challenge the community had been praying for his success in navigating the difficult assignment handed over to him. 

Read Also: Army debunks COAS Lagbaja’s death rumour

“We believed in the efficacy of prayer that is why we call on all sons and daughters of Ilobu to pray and fast fervently for the recovery of Lagbaja, our son. We are not saying traditional worshippers are not on board in this but everybody in the community must pray for his healing. 

“We believe the God that kept him alive, even when some wished him dead will perfect His work on him and bring him back safely to continue his service to the nation. We, therefore, use this medium to caution fake news carriers to desist from their ungodly assignment,” he said. 

Speaking about 2024 Ilobu Day which will hold on November 9, he disclosed that N200million will be raised, saying “Illustrious sons of Ilobu, like Rt Hon. Lasun Yusuf, Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives; Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff; among others will be leading the fundraising for developmental projects.

“We appeal to the Osun State government to rescue the completely dilapidated Konda Comprehensive Health Centre which is the only secondary health facility serving thousands of residents of Ilobu, Erin, Alapupu and other adjourning communities.”

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to promoting gender inclusiveness and integration in all its activities and operations.

Lagbaja said this on Monday, October 14, at the opening of a one-week Leadership and Mentoring Course for Senior Female Officers in the Nigerian Security Sector Institutions, in Abuja.

The course was organised by the National Defence College (NDC) Centre for Strategic Research and Studies in collaboration with the UN Women and the German government.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Abai, the COAS said the Nigerian Army had long recognised the importance of female officers to peace dynamics.

He said that more than ever before, the inclusion of women was important to peace, and initiatives such as this course, were vital stepping stones towards achieving that goal.

He said: “The Nigerian army is an institution committed to principles of equality, professionalism, and service to the nation.

”Throughout its history, it has prided itself on adapting to the needs of the country, maintaining high standards of excellence, and reflecting the diversity of Nigeria in all its ranks.

”Over the years, we have increasingly recognised the need for gender inclusivity, not just as a moral imperative, but as a functional necessity.

”The efforts of the Nigerian army towards gender inclusivity are rooted in the understanding that true strength lies in diversity.

“It is this diversity that allows us to be adaptive, resilient, and capable of tackling the real challenges that confront our nation.”

Lagbaja said that the course was a remarkable initiative under the umbrella of the enhancing gender-responsive security operations and community dialogue project.

He added that the event had brought to the fore the indispensable contribution that women make in the realm of security, peacebuilding, and national development.

According to him, women are key to enhancing our security institutions for personal effectiveness and cultural awareness, with their unique strengths and capabilities.

In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Aishatu Abubakar, said that the Nigeria Police Force management had been intentional about mentorship.

Egbetokun said the police had over the years, implemented different reforms, especially projects that had to do with mentorship specifically for women police.

According to him, the Force has had different engagements with its stakeholders, including the UN Women, and other stakeholders.

The IGP said: “We know that mentorship is very important if you want to have good leadership and we have started right from our police colleges and academies to identify women and mentor them through our very experienced female officers.

Read Also: COAS decries underrepresentation of Rivers, south-south, southeast in Army recruitment

”This is intentional so that we will be able to share our experiences. So we need to intentionally mentor our young women so that we can move together to this position of leadership and sit on the decision table together.”

Also, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, said the course would provide participants with the skills necessary to lead as well as serve as a platform for guidance and mentoring that would be invaluable to their careers.

Audi, who was represented by Commander Charles Opera, said that employing women in leadership would ensure that the security institutions were ever-balanced and equipped to address the complex challenges of today.

”We are preparing them to take on more strategic roles in the defence and executive of our nation,” he said.