PEACEKEEPING MISSION: Army deploys 197 personnel to The Gambia

The Nigerian Army has announced the deployment of 197 soldiers and officers to a fellow West African country, The Gambia, for a peacekeeping mission.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, at the graduation of participants for the NIGCOY 4 ECOMIG pre-deployment training, held at the Lt-Gen Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

The army chief, who was represented at the event by the Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Ali Keffi, said the training goes further to affirm the determination of the Nigerian Armed Forces to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contribution to the quest for global peace and security.

He explained that the pre-deployment training is to refresh and polish the knowledge and expertise of the participants.

He went further to say, “This is also to equip you with the requisite skills required to protecting yourself and equipment while carrying out the mission‘s mandate.

“Generally, the techniques and procedures impacted on you during your training will put you in a good frame of mind to discharge your duties in the mission area.

“I caution you to avoid any ugly incident that can tarnish the image of the Nigerian armed forces in particular and the nation in general.”

Charging them to discharge their duties in agreement with the mission’s mandate at all times, the army chief said, “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.”

According to Buratai, the participants must respect the cultural and religious sensitivity of the people of the host nation and must not involve themselves in the trafficking of illicit substances of any kind, such as alcohol and drugs as those negate the United Nations ethics.

“Please note that the UN maintains zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation and abuse.

“The Nigerian armed forces and indeed the Nigerian government will also not tolerate the contravention of this policy,” he added.

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Commandant of the Centre, Abubakar Tarfa, speaking earlier, had noted that the pre-deployment training lasted for four weeks, and that the troops were expected to be in Gambia for a year.

Meanwhile, of the 197 army personnel for the peacekeeping mission, 12 are officers while185 are soldiers.

By Ebere Ndukwu. . . 

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