157 Nigerian Soldiers Set For Deployment To Sudan For PeaceKeeping

The Nigerian army has warned the 157 soldiers it is sending on a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan to be good ambassadors of their country, as the soldiers just completed pre-deployment training and set for a peacekeeping mission at Abyei in South Sudan.

The army authorities advised them to avoid sexual exploitation and drug trafficking, saying such acts could tarnish Nigeria’s image.

Nigerian Army’s Chief of Operation, Maj.-Gen. Boniface Sinjen, gave the warning while addressing the troops at the graduation ceremony from their pre-deployment training at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) at Jaji in Kaduna State.

“All Nigerian peacekeepers alongside others from around the world have aided the course of humanity, while helping nations in distress to restore peace and enthrone much-desired development.

“The UNISFA was established to restore peace and stability in Abyei after the demilitarisation of Abyei in June 2011, making it an administrative town under the control of the United Nations.

157 Nigerian Soldiers Set For Deployment To Sudan For PeaceKeeping

“Essentially, the mission is mandated to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, protect the area from incursions by unauthorised elements and ensure security.

“The mission has also helped to restore peace and stability in Abyei through the professional conduct of the troops,” he said.

Also, Ademola Adedoja, a major general and commandant of MLAILPKC, said the unit began the 6-week pre-deployment training on January 27, 2024.

He said the pre-deployment training was to equip the earmarked unit with the requisite skills and knowledge to function effectively and efficiently in their deployment to Abyei.

Adedoja said as part of the training, 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, amongst others.

The commandant stressed that Nigeria had since the 1960s, contributed troops to different peace support operations from Congo, Yugoslavia, and Lebanon, amongst others.

He said, “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.

“This graduation is a testament to the capacity and capability of the MLAILPKC as a United Nations accredited Centre to train quality peacekeepers for deployment to multidimensional Peace Support Operations in fulfilment of her mandate.

“The centre has within the last six weeks been able to train, retrain and refresh the troops on requisite knowledge and expertise to succeed in a peace support operational environment.

“It is my fervent belief that these men are better informed and equipped to perform their roles in Abyei.”

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and indeed the Nigeria government will not tolerate the contravention of these rules and regulations,”