Amid Nigeria’s rising insecurity, the country’s Army deploys 173 Soldiers to Guinea Bissau on a peace keeping mission

The Nigerian Army have deployed not fewer than 173 officers and soldiers to Guinea Bissau on an ECOWAS peacekeeping Operation as part of its consistent support in strengthening and enhancing security in the West African sub-region

The Chief of Operations, Army Headquarters, Major General Oluwafemi Akinjobi, announced this Thursday from the Martin Luther Agwai Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji Kaduna State at the pre-deployment training graduation of Nigerian contingent to ECOWAS mission in Guinea Bissau.

While addressing the troops, the Chief of Operations, represented by Major General Zakari Abubakar, urged the contingent to abide by the rules of engagement, exhibit braveness as professionals, and also respect the cultural sensitivity of the people of Guinea Bissau.

“Nigeria remains the beacon of peace and gatekeeper of the ECOWAS sub-region. Consequently, the Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to the deployment of a contingent to maintain peace in the Republic of Guinea Bissau,” he said.

“The history of peacekeeping in Africa cannot be written without the commitment and sacrifices of Nigeria. The first contingent of Nigerian peacekeepers was deployed in 1960 shortly after our independence.

“Since then, Nigeria has contributed over 100,000 peacekeepers in over 40 peacekeeping missions in Africa and across the globe. I must say with pride that our peacekeepers have had to restore peace in many conflict areas around the globe which has earned Nigeria many national and individual commendations from several nations.”

Zakari Abubakar, noting that Nigeria remains the beacon of peace and the gatekeeper of the ECOWAS sub-region also maintained that Nigerian peacekeepers have helped restore peace in many conflict areas around the world, which have earned them many national and individual commendations from several missions.

“The nation continues to strive to ensure security and stability in Africa through collective security by contributing to international peace and security, which is essential to Nigeria’s defence policy.

“You are going there as representatives of the nation so you must be of good behaviour.”

Abubakar who also reminded the soldiers of the United Nations’ zero tolerance for drug trafficking and human rights abuse asked the troupe to avoid indecent characters capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army and the nation in general.

Earlier at the event, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai Peacekeeping Centre, Major General Auwal Fagge, said the aim of the pre-deployment training was to equip the earmarked unit with requisite skills and knowledge to function effectively and efficiently in their deployment to Guinea Bissau which is in line with the Nigerian Army Headquarters’ desire to ensure that troops receive the needed robust and theatre-specific pre-deployment training prior to their induction into peacekeeping missions.

Charging the troops to carry out their duties bearing in mind the multinational, as well as cultural religious diversities of the operating environment, which underscores the need for courtesy and respect for others, Fagge expressed confidence that the high level of enthusiasm and cohesion exhibited by the soldiers and officers will reflect on their operational conduct abroad, that the troops who have undergone four weeks intensive training including cordon and search as well as weapon handling are adequately equipped to keep the peace in the mission area.