From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has started a special capacity building training of 600 state-backed security watch known as Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East on human right violations and rules of engagement.

NEDC security lead consultant, Group Capt Sadeeq Shehu (retd) while addressing participants at the start of the training in Maiduguri, Borno’s State, yesterday, said the exercise was sponsored by the commission to keep the CJTF members in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe abreast of acts that could violate citizens and suspects’ fundamental rights in the course of their duties.

“Authorities have realized that people that provide security must also be trained in human rights, because where you have a security agent that does not have a grounding in human rights. You know, you will be making some mistakes.”

Shehu said the training was part of the stabilisation of the North East states affected by insurgency. He said the training will draw lessons from the recent  killings of some travellers at Uromi, Edo State reportedly by vigilante

Shehu explained that 300 CJTF members were selected from Borno where the security volunteer group started while Adamawa and Yobe states get 150 participants each.

According to him, the training being undertaken by the the Conflict Security and Development Consult, will continue for participants in Adamawa and Yobe states after the completion of Borno

Many participants said the training will provide them skill to handle suspects, promising to use the skill so as not to violate the law and become victims of unlawful acts they volunteered to fight.

CJTF came into existence in June 2013 in Maiduguri as a civil resistance against Boko Haram activities. It was later reorganised by the Borno State government and a law enacted to guide operation. Similar security groups were kater established in Adamawa and Yobe which faced over a decade of insurgency.

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