NIGERIA (Abuja)-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has reiterated his administration’s commitment to embark on constructive dialogue with the Boko Haram sect so as to end the ongoing insurgency in the north.

He said this while declaring open an international seminar on the Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Internal Security Operations.

The seminar, held at the National Defence College, was co-hosted by the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and the National Security Adviser, NSA.

According to Jonathan, the military operations in the area would continue pending the time Boko Haram members would be ready to enter into dialogue with the government.

He said, “Our administration has committed tremendous resources and adopted several approaches to prosecuting the fight against terror in Nigeria.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states is one of the measures taken to curtail the activities of the terrorists.

“The National Committee on Peace and Dialogue in the Northern parts of the country was constituted to explore ways of dialoguing with the Boko Haram sect with a view to addressing their grievances, if any.

“I wish to use this platform to renew my previous call to members of the sect to lay down their arms and engage government in a constructive manner in order to address their grievances, if truly they have any reason to do what they are doing.

“However, while we are awaiting a positive response from the Boko Haram sect, it is important to note that government has the responsibility to protect the lives and property of our citizens.

“No efforts will be spared by this administration in discharging that responsibility.’’

The president commended the organisers of the seminar with the theme “Engendering Greater Understanding of the Legal Underpinning of Internal Security Operations.”

He said the seminar, meant to ensure that the efforts to tackle the security challenges in the country were carried out within the confine of the laws, “is apt, most critical and relevant.

“This seminar comes at the most appropriate time given the degree of security threat facing our country and it is imperative for us to effectively address the threat within lawful and acceptable international norms.’’

Furthermore, President Jonathan admonished members of the armed forces to act with a high sense of responsibility and avoid any criminality in the discharge of their duties.

“We are faced with the challenge of dealing with a group that does not feel obliged to observe the basic tenets of human rights and humanitarian precepts in their modus operandi.

“As the Commander in Chief, I am particularly concerned about the manner in which the men and women of the armed forces discharge their responsibilities in spite of the daunting pressure.

Earlier in his welcome address, the National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, said the seminar was designed to sensitise participants to the imperative of observing human rights abuses in the course of operations.

While commending President Jonathan for various initiatives and the deployment of adequate resources to address internal security challenges, Dasuki added that Nigerian Armed Forces were engaged in internal operations in 32 states.

The seminar was attended by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mrs Fatou Bensaoda, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar and the Supervisory Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs, Labaran Maku and Olajumoke Akinjide, respectively.