Nigerian Army troops on peacekeeping operations have been charged to continuously embody the values and aspirations of Nigeria, and remain a symbol of peace.
Chief of Operations at the Army headquarters, Major General Boniface Sinjen gave the charge at the pre-deployment graduation ceremony of troops of Nigerian Company 3 ECOWAS stabilization support mission in Guinea Bissau, held at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State.
Major General Boniface Sinjen noted that Guinea Bissau was grappling with political instability and institutional crisis, which poses a significant threat to peace and sustainable development in the sub-region.
He pointed out that through the ECOWAS, Nigeria stands with the government and people of Guinea Bissau.
The Chief of Operations explained that the deployment was in line with the mandate mission, which has been extended severally to consolidate on the relative peace and stability in the country.
Major General Sinjen charged the troops to leverage on the advanced techniques they received in peacekeeping operations to make positive impact.
He equally charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by upholding the highest standards of conduct, and maintain the integrity of the military profession.
Earlier in a welcome address, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Major General Ademola Adedoja disclosed that during the pre-deployment training, troops were exposed to series of lectures on contemporary peacekeeping operations, with emphasis on the peculiar nature of security challenges in Guinea Bissau.
He maitained that the political instability in the country, with its associated implications on peace and security were equally highlighted in the training.
Major General Adedoja added that the troops were also exposed to mentally and physically engaging exercises to equip them with the necessary knowledge and tactical skills required in peacekeeping operations in line with the United Nations core pre-deployment modules.
A total of One Hundred and Seventy-seven troops comprising seventeen officers and one hundred and sixty soldiers graduated after undergoing a six week intensive training.
Cov/Usman Sani.
