By Abdulkareem Haruna

Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria – A Borno civil society leader, Comrade Bulama Abiso,  has called for the establishment of a human rights desk outside military control to improve civilian access for complaints and bolster the military’s accountability to the public.

Speaking at the Nigeria Army Human Rights Seminar, Comrade Abiso, head of the Network of Civil Society Organizations in  Borno State (NECSOB), emphasized the need for the military to “step up its accountability framework to civil society by opening its doors wide enough for a more robust interaction.”

He stated that “if this symbiotic interaction is kept alive, the quest for better civil-military relations will be achieved.” 

Abiso suggested CSOs could host the independent desk, highlighting the improved trust between the military and civil society through ongoing engagement, despite past distrust. 

“We at the civil society are ready to provide a space in our head office to establish the Human Rights Desk so that it could be moved out of military barracks for easy access,” he said

His remarks preceded a lecture, delivered by Professor Abubakar Muazu, on military-civil society partnership in human rights protection at the seminar, themed “Balancing Security and Human Rights: A Shared Responsibility.”