The Nigerian Army has completed pre-deployment training for 172 troops for a peacekeeping mission in Guinea Bissau.
The troops began the exercise on March 21 at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, Kaduna State On March 21, 2023.
Addressing the troops on Wednesday, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Operations, Army, stated that the troops would be Nigeria’s Company 2 Stabilisation Mission in the ECOWAS-supported mission in Guinea Bissau.
Lagbaja, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Bayode Adetoro, Director of Peace Support Operations, said the graduation reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deploying quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to global peace and security.
According to him, the purpose of the pre-deployment training is to polish the troops’ expertise in peacekeeping operations.
He said the training will equip them “with the requisite skills required to protect yourselves, ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau equipment and the citizens of Guinea Bissau, your host nation while carrying out the mission’s mandate”.
He urged the troops to stick to the rules of engagement and be professional in the discharge of their duties.
He also warned them not to engage in sexual abuse or molestation.
He said, “Let me categorically state that you are to discharge your duties in consonance with the mission’s mandate at all times.
“I must also remind you that the rules of engagement in the mission give you the latitude to exhibit utmost professionalism in the discharge of your responsibilities.
“Additionally, you must respect the culture and religious sensitivity of the people of the host nation and must not involve yourselves in trafficking of illicit substance of any kind.”
Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, Commandant of the MLAILPKC, described Nigeria as a powerhouse in West Africa which tries to ensure there is peace in the region.
He said, “Nigeria has since the 1960s contributed troops to different peace support operations ranging from the Congo, Yugoslavia and Lebanon, amongst others.
“As the powerhouse of the West Africa sub-region, Nigeria has committed both human and material resources to the attainment of peace in the sub-region.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria is battling challenges of insecurity posed by terrorists, bandits and other criminals, which has stretched the military and security agencies to the limit.