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See the Numbers of personnel Army deploys for peacekeeping in Guinea-Bissau

Published by admin on June 27th, 2024.

See the Numbers of personnel Army deploys for peacekeeping in Guinea-Bissau

Agency Report

Troops

The Nigerian Army has announced the deployment of 177 personnel for a peacekeeping mission in Guinea-Bissau. This development was revealed during the graduation ceremony of the Nigerian Company 3 ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji, Kaduna State.

Major General Boniface Sinjen, the Chief of Operations of the Nigerian Army, highlighted the political instability and institutional crisis in Guinea-Bissau, which threatens peace and development in the region. He emphasized the Nigerian government’s solidarity with Guinea-Bissau through ECOWAS and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau’s government.

“This deployment aligns with the mission’s mandate, extended several times to maintain peace and stability in the country. Our soldiers have been trained here to play a crucial role in this mission,” Sinjen stated. He urged the troops to uphold ECOWAS peacekeeping principles and conduct themselves professionally, respecting human rights and the sovereignty of Guinea-Bissau.

He stressed the Nigerian Army’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, abuse, drug trafficking, and misconduct, warning of severe consequences for any violations.

Major General Sinjen also thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, for his dedication to improving the effectiveness of peacekeeping troops through realistic training. He acknowledged Lagbaja’s leadership and vision in preparing the troops for their mission.

Earlier, Major General Ademola Adedoja, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, noted that the Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) which began on May 19, equipped the contingent with essential skills and knowledge for contemporary peacekeeping operations, particularly in addressing Guinea-Bissau’s unique security challenges.

Adedoja encouraged the troops to embody excellence, emphasizing their role in promoting peace and stability in West Africa and serving as ambassadors for Nigeria.