Nigerian Army contingent to foreign peace missions have been charged to avoid misconducts capable of tarnishing the image of the country.
Chief of Operations, Army headquarters, Major General Boniface Sinjen gave the charge during the pre-deployment graduation ceremony of Nigerian Company 2 to the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei-South Sudan(NIGCOY 2 UNISFA), held at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre Jaji, Kaduna State.
Major General Boniface Sinjen reminded the troops that UNISFA is a high-profile mission requiring high standard of discipline by peacekeepers.
He stressed the need for them to shun acts such as sexual exploitation and abuse, be guided by rules of engagement, observe human rights and respect diversity in the operating environment.
The Chief of Operations recalled that Nigeria had successfully participated in over forty peacekeeping missions, and deployed more than a hundred thousand peacekeepers, since her first mission in the Congo in 1960.
Major General Sinjen described the professional conduct of Nigerian Army troops in past missions as a testament to the quality of training received at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Major General Ademola Adedoja pointed out that the graduation ceremony shows the commitment of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Armed Forces to global peace and security.
According to him, it was also a testament to the capacity and capability of the centre as a United Nations accredited centre to train quality peacekeepers for deployment to multi-dimensional peace support operations in fulfilment of her mandate.
Major General Adedoja commended the troops for their enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism during the course of their training, and warned them against violating the rules and regulations of ECOWAS and the United Nations.
A total of one hundred and fifty-seven officers and soldiers graduated after undergoing a six week comprehensive pre-deployment training.
Usman Sani
