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by Major (Dr ). Livinus Jatto Psc (Author), Ademola O. Popoola Fnials (With)
For more than a decade now, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) had been engaged in operations to contain the activities of Boko Haram particularly in the North-eastern part of the country. The way these operations were conducted drew criticism of violations of some provisions of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) from various quarters. International organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International wrote several reports detailing some of these violations. While it might be true that violations did in fact occur, it is equally true that in some instances the AFN had justifications for their actions in the theatre of operation and if they understood the nuances of the law, they could have better explained their actions.
This book "Respect of IHL: Challenges Faced by the AFN in the Fight Against Boko Haram Insurgents" gives a good explanation of IHL and its application across various spectrums of military operations. It also critically examines why the AFN faced challenges in respecting the rules (where violations occurred). The book goes further to make some recommendations that if applied will go a long way in mitigating future violations.
