By Teddy Daniel
Federal Government has been urged to establish a dedicated remembrance day for Nigerian troops who lost their lives during peacekeeping operations in West Africa under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
The call was made by retired Major General Ohifeme Ejimai, leader of a delegation of ECOMOG veterans, during a visit to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja, where he also appealed for the resolution of documentation gaps concerning the veterans and the group’s historical records.
In a press statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister ,Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Minister, assured the veterans that the Federal Government was committed to preserving ECOMOG’s history and immortalising the sacrifices of Nigerian personnel who served in the regional peacekeeping force.
General Musa acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to ECOMOG operations, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and stressed that those who paid the supreme price in the pursuit of peace and stability would not be forgotten.
He assured the delegation that efforts to document outstanding records, casualties and historical assets associated with ECOMOG would be completed to ensure their proper preservation for future generations.
Earlier, Major General Ejimai said surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans remained willing to contribute to national development and security, while urging the Ministry to address gaps in their documentation and recognise the sacrifices of hundreds of Nigerian troops who died during the missions.
ECOMOG was established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990 as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force.
Driven significantly by Nigerian leadership and troops, the force played a major role in efforts to restore constitutional order, protect civilian populations and stabilise West Africa during regional crises.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
