Defence Minister Praises ICRC for Humanitarian Efforts

General Christoph Musa (rtd), the Defence Minister of Nigeria, praised the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its significant humanitarian activities in Nigeria, especially in the northeast region. During a meeting with an ICRC delegation at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, he underscored the commitment to promoting human rights and adhering to international best practices regarding civil-military relations.

General Musa condemned the ongoing insurgency affecting the northeast and northwest regions of Nigeria and called for stakeholder collaboration in the fight against terrorism. Dori El Doueihi, head of the ICRC delegation, expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation with the Nigerian military, describing it as essential for delivering assistance to conflict-affected areas.

She acknowledged the Nigerian government's recent launch of a new training program for military police in Zaria and reaffirmed the ICRC's commitment to expanding its humanitarian operations in the northeast and northwest. El Doueihi also addressed the issue of prolonged detention without family contact for suspects, urging the Minister to ensure Red Cross members have access to detainees.