The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, says the operations of the Nigerian armed forces are guided by extant laws, rules of engagement and standard operating procedures.

Mr Irabor said this when he received participants of Promotion Staff Course 4 of the Institute of Defence, Senegal, who are on a study tour to Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

The director of defence information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, said the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, received the visitors on behalf of the defence chief.

Mr Irabor said the Nigerian military was created through constitutional provisions and that it would continue to leverage on the laws in conducting its operations towards securing the nation’s territory, lives and properties of Nigerians and foreigners.

The defence chief commended the leadership of the Senegalese defence institute for the visit, which he said would boost the existing bilateral and diplomatic relations.

He added that the visit would afford Nigeria and Senegal the opportunity to further foster the collaborations between their armed forces, particularly in combating transnational security threats occasioned by global terrorism.

Mr Irabor commended both nations’ militaries for their contributions towards peace support operations in Africa.

Earlier, the head of the Senegalese delegation, Col C Gueye, said the visit was to enable participants gain firsthand knowledge of the roles of the Nigerian military.

Mr Gueye stated that the institute’s mission was to build the capacity of staff officers in the areas of crisis management and maintenance of global peace.

The Senegalese delegation, which comprised three members of directing staff and 26 students are expected to visit other military establishments, institutions and formations during their stay in Nigeria. 

(NAN)