29/03/2026
The Borno state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Hauwa Abubakar represent His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in a High-Level IHL Dialogue with the theme “Protection of Civilian Infrastructure in Armed Conflict” where she reaffirmed Borno's commitment on the protection of civilian citing the "Borno Model" as it recognize that true peace is inseparable from justice and the preservation of the essential services that sustain human dignity. Reiterating how the state government's efforts to rebuild schools, hospitals, and homes move from mere construction to strategic imperatives designed to uphold IHL and provide a sustainable pathway from the ravages of conflict to lasting stability and recovery.
The Attorney General noted that discourse on strengthening the protection of civilian infrastructure must move from policy to practice. Where she highlighted some critical steps;
1.We must invest in enhanced intelligence-gathering, as suggested, not just to track the enemy but to map and understand the civilian environment.
2. We must adopt robust target development procedures that place critical civilian infrastructure on "no-strike lists" as a default.
3. We must invest in the capacity of our security forces, not just with weapons, but with the training and legal understanding to apply the principles of distinction and proportionality in complex urban environments.
On behalf of the Borno State Government, Barr. Hauwa reaffirmed the state's readiness to partner with the Federal Government, the NCIHLIN, and our international partners like the ICRC and the ICC in this noble endeavour, and the state's willingness to share experiences (both the successes and the painful lessons learned) to contribute to the development of best practices for protecting civilians in armed conflict.
Special thanks to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for this singular honour of inviting His Excellency, Governor Babagan