172 Nigerian troops for Guinea Bissau

The Nigerian Army yesterday completed the pre-deployment training of 172 troops for peace-keeping mission in Guinea Bissau.

The troops began their pre-deployment training on March 21 at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji, Kaduna State.

The Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the troops would be Nigeria’s company 2 Stabilisation Mission in the ECOWAS-support mission in Guinea Bissau.

Gen. Lagbaja, represented by the Director (Peace Support Operations), Maj.-Gen. Bayode Adetoro, said the graduation further confirms the commitment of Nigeria to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to the quest for global peace and security.

He explained that the pre-deployment training was aimed at refreshing and polishing troops’ knowledge and expertise in peace-support operation.

“The training is to equip you 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.

“You are to discharge your duties in consonance with the mission’s mandate at all times. 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,” Lagbaja warned.

Commandant of the MLAILPKC, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, said the training was intense, comprehensive, and was conducted using the Standard United Nations Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials.

He added that the troops were taken through crosscutting issues like sexual exploitation and abuse; conflict related sexual violence, conduct and discipline as well as protection of civilians, among others.

The Commandant charged the troops on discharging their duties in line with the mission’s mandate, and urged them to adhere strictly to the mission’s rules of engagement.

He also urged them to carry out their duties bearing in mind the multinational, as well as cultural and religious diversities of the operating environment which underscore the need for courtesy and respect for their hosts as well as others.